Lymphocytic hypophysitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

A case of lymphocytic hypophysitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythem atosus is described. A 20-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with generalized myalgia and facial rash in May 1998. The patient had a medical history, physical examination, and laboratory findings compatible with syst emic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Headache and nausea had developed 3 months previously and worsened over the following months. Hormonal investigation s howed hypopituitarism except for prolactin. A magnetic resonance image of t he brain showed a mass lesion in the pituitary fossa. A trans-sphenoidal su rgical procedure was performed which revealed a dark-yellowish hematoma. Mi croscopic examination showed diffuse infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells with fibrosis in the anterior pituitary. Post-operatively the patien t's headaches and nausea resolved. This indicates that lymphocytic hypophys itis may be associated with SLE.