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Updated: May 10, 2026
10:34
Double Direct Injection of Blood into the Cisterna Magna as a Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Published on: August 30, 2020
Pituitary deficiency after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Julio Leonardo Barbosa Pereira1, Lucas Alverne Freitas de Albuquerque, Marcos Dellaretti
1Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Department of Neurosurgery, Belo Horizonte/MG, Brazil.
Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
|June 20, 2013
Summary
Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage frequently causes pituitary dysfunction, affecting over half of patients. However, this endocrine issue does not appear to worsen clinical outcomes or increase hospital stays.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Neurosurgery
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) poses a significant risk for developing pituitary insufficiency.
- Early identification of pituitary dysfunction is crucial for managing patients post-aSAH.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of pituitary dysfunction following aSAH.
- To investigate the correlation between pituitary dysfunction and clinical outcomes in these patients.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated pituitary function in 66 patients within 15 days of aSAH.
- Assessed multiple pituitary hormones including TSH, cortisol, ACTH, GH, IGF-1, and gonadotropins.
- Correlated endocrine deficiencies with clinical severity scores (Glasgow Coma Scale, Hunt-Hess, Fisher grades).
Main Results:
- 59.1% of patients exhibited some form of pituitary dysfunction.
- The most common deficiencies involved follicle-stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone (34.8%) and growth hormone/insulin growth factor (28.7%).
- Hormone deficiencies were more prevalent in patients with lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores and higher Hunt-Hess and Fisher grades.
Conclusions:
- Pituitary dysfunction is common after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- No significant association was found between pituitary dysfunction and adverse clinical outcomes or prolonged hospitalization.
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