Question

Can you please share more information about how ACTH deficiency could affect a child with Diabetes insipidus in a child with a pituitary tumor?

Answer 1

ACTH stands for adrenocorticotropic hormone.

This hormone is produced by pituitary gland.Due to the deficiency in the production of this hormone,it results in ACTH deficiency.

ACTH deficiency results in decreased secretion of adrenal hormones which results in adrenal insufficiency i.e., hypoadrenalism.

Diabetes incipidus is a condition caused by decreased amount of Anti- diuretic hormone i.e.,ADH ( vasopressin ) .

ADH controls the amount of water to be passed in the urine.Due to less amount or not enough ADH there is large amount of fluid passed in the urine as compared to normal urine amount. This results in a disorder refer to as diabetes incipidus.

ADH is produced by hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland and released when needed.

Pituitary tumor- It is the unwanted growth of cells in the pituitary gland.This gland play an important role in the production of hormones such as ACTH, growth hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone etc.

Tumor is basically of two types- functioning where it can produce large number of hormones and non functioning where there is no release of hormones.

ACTH deficiency affect a child with diabetes incipidus in a child with pituitary tomor because:

1. Pituatary gland is a gland where hormone such as ACTH is produced (in case of ACTH deficiency)and ADH is stored and released when needed.(in case of diabetes incipidus)

2. Pituitary tumor of functioning type can increase the production of hormone .As in the condition of diabetes incipidus or ACTH deficiency there is decreased secretion of hormone but too much excessive secretions of hormones can cause side effects as we need proper amount of hormones not in decreased or excessive form.

3.Symptoms in childrens are associated with the hormone the tumor (functioning)make .

These symptoms are vision problems, headaches, dizziness, weight loss,high blood pressure etc.