Pituitary disorders and pregnancy.

In conclusion, the physiologic changes that occur in the pituitary during pregnancy make women harboring pituitary tumors more vulnerable to tumor complications, namely tumor expansion resulting in either visual defects or hormone deficiencies. Fortunately, vast experience with the most common of these tumors (prolactinomas) allows us to make specific recommendations to women with such tumor embarking upon pregnancy. These recommendations have been outlined. In addition to tumors, the anterior lobe of the pituitary may be the seat of two rare conditions (Sheehan's syndrome and lymphocytic hypophysitis) that afflict pregnant women predominantly. Their importance lies in the fact that hypopituitarism, sometimes requiring urgent treatment, may result. Finally, pregnancy may have an unfavorable impact upon women with diabetes insipidus, necessitating careful observation. Given the availability of a specific and highly effective therapeutic agent, desmopressin acetate, the management of these women is rarely problematic.