Glucocorticoid replacement in panhypopituitarism complicated by myelinolysis.

Objective: To report a case of glucocorticoid substitution in panhypopituitarism that can lead to uncontrolled rise in serum sodium and myelinolysis.

Clinical Presentation And Intervention: A 42-year-old man presented with disturbed conscious level and hyponatremia. Initial data suggested glucocorticoid deficiency. Later, hormonal levels indicated panhypopituitarism. MRI of the brain led to the diagnosis of a pituitary macroadenoma. Glucocorticoid substitution was initiated immediately after admission, and possible myelinolysis subsequently became a complication. We report this case to illustrate the fact that glucocorticoid substitution can lead to rapid rise in serum sodium and myelinolysis in panhypopituitarism.

Conclusion: This case illustrated the need to use minimum doses of glucocortcoids with close monitoring of serum sodium, in order to avoid this complication.