ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

To read the full abstract: Autoimmun Rev. 2019 Oct;18(10):102363. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2019.102363. Epub 2019 Aug 8. Review. PMID: 31401342.

Autoimmune hypophysitis is rare in children (fewer than 100 reported cases). Here, Romanoa et al. review the literature on this fairly unknown topic. They teach us that hypophysitis can be divided into adeno-, infundibuloneuro- and panhypophysitis. It can be primary or secondary depending on the presence of a triggering condition (immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, trauma, neoplasm, infection, or other autoimmune disorders, such as APECED). Germinoma is listed as a secondary cause of hypophysitis and can be diagnosed a few years after presentation of hypophysitis. As diabetes insipidus is commonly presented in both diseases, careful follow-up is needed for pediatric hypophysitis. A biopsy should be taken to exclude malignant etiology, but, as it is a risky procedure, its pros and cons need to be carefully weighed. Overall, the etiology and diagnostic lab work need more research. See also a good review by Gubbi et al. 2018 (Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders 19: 335–347).