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Evaluation of hypothalamic-pituitary function in children following acute bacterial meningitis

Eda Karadag-Oncel1, Meltem Cakir, Ates Kara

  • 1Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Sıhhiye, 06100, Ankara, Turkey, dredakaradag@gmail.com.

Pituitary
|December 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Childhood bacterial meningitis rarely causes hypothalamo-pituitary dysfunction, unlike in adults. Neurosecretory dysfunction of growth hormone (GH) was observed in some pediatric cases following meningitis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Infectious central nervous system diseases can lead to hypothalamo-pituitary dysfunction.
  • Previous studies in adults and case reports in children suggest this link.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate hypothalamo-pituitary axis function in children after bacterial meningitis.
  • To assess the frequency and type of endocrine dysfunction post-meningitis in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients diagnosed with bacterial meningitis between 2000 and 2011.
  • Hormonal evaluations including baseline and stimulated tests were performed.
  • Assessment of pituitary function occurred 8-135 months post-meningitis.

Main Results:

  • Thirty-seven children (mean age 11.1 years) were included; pituitary function was assessed.
  • Normal adrenal function, no gonadotropin deficiency in pubertal cases, and no TSH deficiency or diabetes insipidus were found.
  • Four cases (10.8%) showed low IGF1/IGFBP3, with three suggesting neurosecretory growth hormone (GH) dysfunction.

Conclusions:

  • Hypothalamo-pituitary dysfunction is less common in children after bacterial meningitis compared to adults.
  • Neurosecretory dysfunction of GH is a notable finding in some pediatric cases post-meningitis.
Abstract

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