2 CASES OF WEGENERS GRANULOMATOSIS INVOLVING THE PITUITARY

We describe two patients with Wegener's granulomatosis involving the p ituitary. The diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis was inferred from the histological appearance of biopsy tissue and the presence of anti- neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies with cytoplasmic distribution in the first case, in which disease remained confined to the pituitary, caus ing anterior and posterior pituitary dysfunction. In the second case t he diagnosis was made by the progressive involvement of other organ sy stems, compatible histology and the presence of anti-neutrophil cytopl asmic antibodies with cytoplasmic distribution. In neither patient did posterior pituitary dysfunction respond to immunosuppressive therapy, despite remission of other features of systemic vasculitis. Panhypopi tuitarism in association with isolated pituitary Wegener's granulomato sis has not previously been described.