Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lymphocytic hypophysitis in a dog with diabetes insipidus.
- Journal:
- Journal of comparative pathology
- Year:
- 2012
- Authors:
- Meij, B P et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals · Netherlands
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old male German longhaired pointer was brought in for diabetes insipidus, a condition that causes excessive thirst and urination, which was responding well to treatment with a medication called desmopressin. The dog was also showing signs of being very tired, had a dull coat, and was not exercising well. Blood tests showed low levels of several hormones, and imaging revealed a mass in the pituitary gland that was pressing on the hypothalamus. After surgery to remove the mass, the tissue samples showed inflammation of the pituitary gland caused by an immune response, but there was no tumor present. The treatment was successful in diagnosing the condition, which closely resembles a similar issue seen in humans.
Abstract
An 8-year-old male German longhaired pointer was referred for diabetes insipidus responsive to treatment with desmopressin. The dog had polyuria and polydipsia, exercise intolerance and a dull hair coat. Plasma concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine, growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 were decreased; plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was slightly elevated and plasma α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) was within the reference range. Computed tomography revealed a heterogeneously contrast-enhancing pituitary mass compressing the hypothalamus. Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy was performed and microscopical examination of the surgical biopsy samples revealed hypophysitis without evidence of pituitary adenoma. The hypophysitis was characterized by marked lymphocytic infiltration of the adenohypophysis that contained a mixed population of neuroendocrine cells expressing GH, ACTH or α-MSH. The lymphocytes were identified as T cells, resulting in a final diagnosis of lymphocytic hypophysitis strongly resembling human primary lymphocytic hypophysitis.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22789859/