Laboratory diagnosis of hypopituitarism.

Hypopituitarism can be caused by failure or loss of one or more of the eight identifiable hormones in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. The endocrine manifestations of hypopituitarism are related to the type and degree of hormonal deficiency and the stage in life during which the deficiency occurs. In patients with suspected hypopituitarism, the diagnostic approach consists of determining the extent and the cause of the hormonal loss. Specific provocative tests for the diagnosis of hypopituitarism are reviewed in detail in this article.