[Recent progress in the diagnosis and treatment of hypopituitarism]

Measurement of basal pituitary hormone levels by IRMA made it possible to suspect even hypopituitarism because of the high sensitivity and specificity. Clinical application of TRH, LH-RH, CRF and GRF made it easier to diagnose pituitary reserves of individual pituitary hormones directly. Comparisons of GH or ACTH responses to ITT with those to CRF or GRF are especially useful for a differentiation of hypothalamic and pituitary lesions. A search for gene abnormality by various techniques may be necessary for a diagnosis of the nature of pituitary tumor as a cause of hypopituitarism. Replacement of growth hormone to adult GH deficiency is the greatest concern for future with a variety of dispute. Determination of plasma pituitary hormone levels is a good marker for a titration of a dosage of corticosteroid or thyroid hormone replacement.