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Updated: May 1, 2026
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Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
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Neonatal haemochromatosis with reversible pituitary involvement
Giuseppe Indolfi1, Rita Bèrczes, Isabella Pelliccioli
1Paediatric Hepatology, Meyer Children Hospital, Firenze, Italy.
Summary
Neonatal haemochromatosis, a severe gestational disease, can cause pituitary iron deposition leading to secondary hypothyroidism. Liver transplantation successfully treated these conditions, indicating pituitary dysfunction is a reversible manifestation.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
Background:
- Neonatal haemochromatosis is a rare, severe alloimmune gestational disease with high mortality.
- It is characterized by neonatal liver failure and extrahepatic iron deposition (siderosis).
- Previously, pituitary dysfunction was not recognized as a complication.
Observation:
- This report details a neonate diagnosed with neonatal haemochromatosis.
- The neonate presented with secondary hypothyroidism due to iron deposition in the pituitary gland.
- This represents a novel extrahepatic manifestation of the disease.
Findings:
- The neonate exhibited pituitary iron deposition, a previously unreported finding in neonatal haemochromatosis.
- Secondary hypothyroidism was successfully treated.
- ABO-incompatible liver transplantation resolved both the liver failure and the pituitary dysfunction.
Implications:
- Pituitary gland dysfunction should be considered an extrahepatic manifestation of neonatal haemochromatosis.
- Early diagnosis and intervention, such as liver transplantation, can reverse pituitary iron deposition and associated endocrine dysfunction.
- This finding expands the understanding of neonatal haemochromatosis complications and treatment outcomes.
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