UK guidelines for the management of pituitary apoplexy: UK guidelines for the management of pituitary apoplexy

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Abstract

Classical pituitary apoplexy is a medical emergency and rapid replacement with hydrocortisone maybe life saving. It is a clinical syndrome characterized by the sudden onset of headache, vomiting, visual impairment and decreased consciousness caused by haemorrhage and/or infarction of the pituitary gland. It is associated with the sudden onset of headache accompanied or not by neurological symptoms involving the second, third, fourth and sixth cranial nerves. If diagnosed patients should be referred to a multidisciplinary team comprising, amongst others, a neurosurgeon and an endocrinologist. Apart from patients with worsening neurological symptoms in whom surgery is indicated, it is unclear currently for the majority of patients whether conservative or surgical management carries the best outcome. Post apoplexy, there needs to be careful monitoring for recurrence of tumour growth. It is suggested that further trials be carried out into the management of pituitary apoplexy to optimize treatment. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

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Systems for grading the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations I: Critical appraisal of existing approaches The GRADE Working Group

David Atkins, Martin Eccles, Signe Flottorp … (2004)

Background A number of approaches have been used to grade levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations. The use of many different approaches detracts from one of the main reasons for having explicit approaches: to concisely characterise and communicate this information so that it can easily be understood and thereby help people make well-informed decisions. Our objective was to critically appraise six prominent systems for grading levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations as a basis for agreeing on characteristics of a common, sensible approach to grading levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations. Methods Six prominent systems for grading levels of evidence and strength of recommendations were selected and someone familiar with each system prepared a description of each of these. Twelve assessors independently evaluated each system based on twelve criteria to assess the sensibility of the different approaches. Systems used by 51 organisations were compared with these six approaches. Results There was poor agreement about the sensibility of the six systems. Only one of the systems was suitable for all four types of questions we considered (effectiveness, harm, diagnosis and prognosis). None of the systems was considered usable for all of the target groups we considered (professionals, patients and policy makers). The raters found low reproducibility of judgements made using all six systems. Systems used by 51 organisations that sponsor clinical practice guidelines included a number of minor variations of the six systems that we critically appraised. Conclusions All of the currently used approaches to grading levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations have important shortcomings.

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Classical pituitary apoplexy: clinical features, management and outcome.

Beverley Adams-Huet, J Schoebel, H Randeva … (1999)

The term classical pituitary apoplexy describes a clinical syndrome characterized by sudden headache, vomiting, visual impairment and meningismus caused by the rapid enlargement of a pituitary adenoma usually due to haemorrhagic infarction of the tumour. Most published reports looking at the clinical features and management of pituitary apoplexy have not differentiated between patients with clinical and subclinical apoplexy, the latter diagnosed at surgery. Furthermore, little is reported on the clinical outcome, in particular visual and endocrinological, and the role of radiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to observe not only the clinical presentation but also the possible predisposing events, investigations, management, clinical outcome as well as the role of radiotherapy in patients presenting with classical pituitary apoplexy. In a retrospective analysis 1985-96, the medical records of 21 male and 14 female patients (mean age 49.8 years, range 30-74) with classical pituitary apoplexy were reviewed. This represents all patients seen with this condition over the stated period. In all patients, pre- and post- operative measurements were made of FT4, FT3, TSH, PRL, LH, FSH, cortisol (0900 h), GH, oestradiol (females) and testosterone (males). Pituitary imaging was by computerized tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or both. Patients were followed for up to 11 years (mean 6.3 years: range 0.5-11). Headache (97%) was the commonest presenting symptom, followed by nausea (80%) and a reduction of visual fields (71%). Hypertension, defined as a systolic > 160 mmHg and/or a diastolic > 90 mmHg, was seen in 26% of patients. MRI correctly identified pituitary haemorrhage in 88% (n = 7), but CT scanning identified haemorrhage in only 21% (n = 6). By immunostaining criteria, null-cell adenomas were the most common tumour type (61%). Transsphenoidal surgery resulted in improvement in visual acuity in 86%. Complete restoration of visual acuity occurred in all patients operated on within 8 days but only in 46% of patients operated on after this time (9-34 days). Long-term steroid or thyroid hormone replacement was necessary in 58% and 45% of patients, respectively. Of the male patients, 43% required testosterone replacement, and long-term desmopressin therapy was required in 6%. Only two patients (6%) with tumour recurrence after transsphenoidal surgery for the initial apoplectic event, subsequently required radiotherapy. In classical pituitary apoplexy, headache is the commonest presenting symptom and hypertension may be an important predisposing factor. MRI is the imaging method of choice. Transsphenoidal surgery is safe and effective. It is indicated if there are associated abnormalities of visual acuity or visual fields because, when performed within 8 days, it resulted in significantly greater improvement in visual acuity and fields than if surgery was performed after this time. Radiotherapy is not indicated immediately as the risk of tumour recurrence is small, but careful follow-up initially with annual imaging is indicated in this group.

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Precipitating factors in pituitary apoplexy.

V Biousse, Nelson M. Oyesiku, N Newman (2001)

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare but life threatening condition caused by sudden haemorrhage or infarction of the pituitary gland. Potential precipitating factors in the occurrence of acute pituitary apoplexy in 30 consecutive patients were identified and compared with the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with and without associated factors. Six patients had a previously known pituitary adenoma. All patients complained of severe headaches, associated with neuro-ophthalmological symptoms and signs in 83% and altered mental status in 30%. Potential risk factors were identified in nine patients (30%). When there was an associated factor, the clinical presentation was no different than in patients without such factors although altered mental status may be more frequent in patients with associated diseases. In these patients, the visual prognosis was worse and the diagnosis was more difficult to establish. Acute pituitary apoplexy is unpredictable and should be considered in any patient with abrupt neuro-ophthalmological deterioration associated with headache. Patients with pituitary apoplexy often have an associated disease that confounds recognition and treatment despite a typical presentation.

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Journal

Title: Clinical Endocrinology

Publisher: Wiley

ISSN: 03000664

Publication date Created: January 2011

Publication date (Print): January 2011

Publication date (Electronic): December 15 2010

Volume: 74

Issue: 1

Pages: 9-20

Article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2010.03913.x

PubMed ID: 21044119

SO-VID: 2a10ed1d-a989-4354-bc10-eeddfcae6f56

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http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1

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UK guidelines for the management of pituitary apoplexy : UK guidelines for the management of pituitary apoplexy

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Most cited references 40

Systems for grading the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations I: Critical appraisal of existing approaches The GRADE Working Group

Classical pituitary apoplexy: clinical features, management and outcome.

Precipitating factors in pituitary apoplexy.

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