Pituitary Insufficiency Diagnosed After Coronavirus Disease-19: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and SARS-CoV-2 might affect the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal axis. This paper presents a rare case of pituitary insufficiency diagnosed after CoV disease (COVID)-19. Case Report: On December 7, 2020, a 67-year-old male patient presented to the Endocrinology Department of Lokman Hekim University with weakness, weight loss, and abdominal pain lasting for 3 weeks. In his medical history, he had a positive real-time polymerase chain reaction test result for SARS-CoV-2 based on the nasopharyngeal swab analyzed on September 30. Central hypothyroidism, secondary adrenal insufficiency, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and a low dehydroepiandrosterone- sulfate level were detected in the laboratory examinations. Steroid therapy was initiated. Conclusion: Non-specific adrenal insufficiency symptoms such as fatigue and weakness, and psychosomatic symptoms can be seen during the course of COVID-19 or the post-COVID-19 period. Physicians should be aware about the systemic effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and follow-up patients with a history of COVID-19 accordingly.