Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39404935›Full record

SynthesisPituitary2024

Hypophysitis in COVID-19: a systematic review.

Sara Menotti, Luigi di Filippo, Umberto Terenzi, Sabrina Chiloiro, Laura De Marinis

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Pituitary, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. An update on hypophysitis.Nature reviews. Endocrinology · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. A pediatric case of central diabetes insipidus and hypopituitarism after COVID-19 suspected with lymphocytic hypophysitis with positive anti-rabphilin-3A antibodies.Clinical pediatric endocrinology : case reports and clinical investigations : official journal of the Japanese Society for Pediatric Endocrinology · 2026
    Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Review
  8. Effect of Pituitary-Target Gland Axis on RAAS in the Context of COVID-19.International journal of medical sciences · 2025
    Review
  9. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sara MenottiInstitute of Endocrine and Metabolic Sciences, San Raffaele Vita-Salute University and IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy. menotti.sara@hsr.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3256-3206
Luigi di FilippoInstitute of Endocrine and Metabolic Sciences, San Raffaele Vita-Salute University and IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.
Umberto TerenziInstitute of Endocrine and Metabolic Sciences, San Raffaele Vita-Salute University and IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.
Sabrina ChiloiroPituitary Unit, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Laura De MarinisPituitary Unit, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis systematic review aims to collect and examine recent research findings regarding hypophysitis in COVID-19 patients.

methodWe conducted a comprehensive literature review in English on the topic "Hypophysitis in COVID-19," using the MEDLINE (PubMed) database in July 2024. The selected articles were systematically tabulated and we have assessed in this review patient demographics, symptom presentation, imaging results, diagnosis, clinical management, and outcomes.

resultsSeven reported cases of post-COVID-19 hypophysitis were identified, comprising 4 (57%) females and 3 (43%) males, with a median age of 37 years. The interval between COVID-19 infection symptoms and the onset of hypophysitis ranged from 2 to 3 weeks. Initial symptoms included frontal headache in 4 (57%) cases and polyuria and polydipsia in 3 (43%) cases. Anterior or posterior hypopituitarism was observed in 6 (85%) patients. Radiological findings varied: 2 (28.5%) cases showed panhypophysitis, 3 (43%) cases exhibited gland enlargement with homogeneous contrast enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 1 case involved the loss of the posterior pituitary bright spot, and 1 case involved pituitary apoplexy/enlargement of the gland and infundibulum. No pituitary biopsies were performed. Four (57%) patients received glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. Long-term follow-up was documented in only one case, a 16-year-old female followed for 2 years reporting complete clinical and radiological resolution.

conclusionAlthough rare, hypophysitis related to COVID-19 is documented in the literature exhibiting distinct characteristics such as a homogeneous gender prevalence, an average age of onset around 35 years, and primary symptoms of headache, polyuria, and polydipsia which are indicative of angiotensin-vasopressin deficiency. This is in contrast with primary autoimmune hypophysitis characterized by a female prevalence and typical symptoms with headache and visual impairment. Longer-term follow-up of these patients is needed to better understand the potential lasting impact on pituitary function and radiological improvement. Future research should also explore the presence of anti-pituitary antibodies and the other possible pathophysiological mechanisms potentially involved in these cases.

Indexed as

COVID-19HypophysitisAdultFemaleHeadacheHumansHypopituitarismMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedPituitary GlandSARS-CoV-2Angiotensin-vasopressin deficiencyAutoimmuneCOVID-19HypophysitisHypothalamusPituitarySARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.