Recurrent confusion and hypopituitarism.

Three women in late middle age had recurrent episodes of confusion which could not be explained solely on the basis of an associated infection. All three patients had latent hypopituitarism diagnosed on final presentation. Each patient had a previous history of a severe postpartum haemorrhage followed by two further pregnancies. Experienced clinicians had not made a diagnosis of confusional episodes due to hypopituitary encephalopathy because the history was not immediately available in the confused patient, and the significance of deficient axillary and pubic hair was not given due emphasis.