Lymphocytic hypophysitis

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Disease Overview

Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LH) is a condition in which the pituitary gland becomes infiltrated by lymphocytes, resulting in pituitary enlargement and impaired function.[5524][5525] It most often occurs in women in late pregnancy or the postpartum period, but can also occur in prepubertal or post-menopausal women, and in men.[5524][5525] Symptoms of LH may include headache, visual field impairment and more rarely, double vision (diplopia).[5524] The exact cause is unknown but is thought to be autoimmune-related.[5525][5524] Although some cases resolve on their own or after a short course of steroids, other cases cause persistent problems even with aggressive medical or surgical treatment.[5527]


Synonyms

  • LYH
  • LH
  • Autoimmune hypophysitis

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National Organization for Rare Disorders