Thyroid and other endocrine disorders in pregnancy

Management of adrenal tumors in pregnancy

Adrenal diseases, including Cushing syndrome (CS), primary aldosteronism (PA), pheochromocytoma, and adrenocortical carcinoma, are uncommon in pregnancy; a high degree of clinical suspicion must exist. Physiologic changes to the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in a normal pregnancy result in increased cortisol, renin, and aldosterone levels, making the diagnosis of CS and PA in pregnancy challenging. However, catecholamines are not altered in pregnancy and allow a laboratory diagnosis of pheochromocytoma that is similar to that of the nonpregnant state. Although adrenal tumors in pregnancy result in significant maternal and fetal morbidity, and sometimes mortality, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment often improve outcomes.

Adrenal diseases during pregnancy: pathophysiology, diagnosis and management strategies

: Adrenal diseases--including disorders such as Cushing's syndrome, Addison's disease, pheochromocytoma, primary hyperaldosteronism and congenital adrenal hyperplasia--are relatively rare in pregnancy, but a timely diagnosis and proper treatment are critical because these disorders can cause maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Making the diagnosis of adrenal disorders in pregnancy is challenging as symptoms associated with pregnancy are also seen in adrenal diseases. In addition, pregnancy is marked by several endocrine changes, including activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The aim of this article was to review the pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis and management of various adrenal disorders during pregnancy.

Adrenal disorders in pregnancy

Adrenal disorders may manifest during pregnancy de novo, or before pregnancy undiagnosed or diagnosed and treated. Adrenal disorders may present as hormonal hypofunction or hyperfunction, or with mass effects or other nonendocrine effects. Pregnancy presents special problems in the evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in addition to the usual considerations. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis undergoes major changes during pregnancy. Nevertheless, the common adrenal disorders are associated with morbidity during pregnancy and their management is more complicated. A high index of suspicion must be maintained for these disorders lest they go unrecognized and untreated.