Neonatal hypopituitarism: a neurological perspective.

Twelve patients presented with evidence of hypopituitarism in the neonatal period, but only four were correctly diagnosed at that time. Craniofacial, optic and neurological features were common. Optic hypoplasia occurred in six cases, large anterior and posterior fontanelles in four, wide sutures in four, depressed nasal bridge in three, facial palsy in three, and one infant had an asymmetrical, crying facies. Seizures occurred in three during the neonatal period and in eight at a later age. All 12 had hyperbilirubinaemia, 11 had hypoglycaemia, and micropenis occurred in five of the seven boys. This survey suggests that the incidence of neonatal hypopituitarism may have increased.