Document Detail


Sudden death and Wegener's granulomatosis of the pituitary.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  11028850     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Involvement of brain parenchyma or meninges in ANCA-associated small-vessel vasculitis such as Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is not uncommon. In contrast, involvement of the pituitary is exceedingly rare with only a few cases reported so far. The diagnosis is usually made on the basis of imaging techniques and abnormal pituitary function tests in the setting of active systemic vasculitis. However, histology-proven involvement of the pituitary by WG has not been reported so far. We report a case of WG with histology-proven granulomatous necrotizing inflammation of the pituitary and hypothalamo-pituitary stalk, disclosed at autopsy after the patient had died suddenly and unexpectedly in his sleep. In a setting of histology-proven WG, these findings were regarded as a pituitary manifestation of the disorder. A distinct cause of death could not be found, hence we speculate that hypothalamo-pituitary inflammation due to WG may have caused the sudden death in this patient.
Authors:
A Woywodt; H Knoblauch; R Kettritz; W Schneider; U Göbel
Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Scandinavian journal of rheumatology     Volume:  29     ISSN:  0300-9742     ISO Abbreviation:  Scand. J. Rheumatol.     Publication Date:  2000  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2000-10-25     Completed Date:  2000-10-25     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0321213     Medline TA:  Scand J Rheumatol     Country:  NORWAY    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  264-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Nephrology, Franz-Volhard-Clinic, Humboldt-University, Berlin, Germany. woywodt@aol.com
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Death, Sudden*
Humans
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Pituitary Diseases / diagnosis*,  pathology
Pituitary Gland, Anterior / pathology*
Vasopressins / therapeutic use
Wegener Granulomatosis / diagnosis*,  drug therapy,  pathology
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; 11000-17-2/Vasopressins

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