Snake bite induced delayed hypopituitarism: a rare case report

Authors

  • Niladri Bhowmick Department of General Medicine, Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Jotideb Mukhopadhyay Department of General Medicine, Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Soumyadip Kar Department of General Medicine, Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Amrita Das Department of General Medicine, Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20203699

Keywords:

Acute kidney injury, Empty sella, Hypothyroidism, Hypopituitarism, Snake bite, Russel’s viper

Abstract

Hypopituitarism following snake bite induced AKI and dialysis is an uncommon complication. Often the presentation is delayed and Can present with a myriad of features. We present a case of a 27 year old male patient, with past history of snake bite and acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring dialysis and which subsequently resolved, presenting to us with fatigability and weakness, absence of secondary sexual character and poor academic performance. On examination, the patient had pale white and coarse skin. Hoarseness of voice was present. There was proximal upper and lower limb muscle weakness present with pseudo myotonia on examination. There was loss of axillary and pubic hair with low testicular volume. Routine reports suggested mildly elevated creatinine with severely elevated Triglyceride levels. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) was raised. Hormonal profile revealed low free thyroxine (FT4) and serum 8 a.m. Cortisol but an inadequate increase in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were suggestive of central hypopituitarism. Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels were reduced. Neuroimaging revealed empty sella suggestive of pituitary apoplexy. The above were suggestive of delayed hypopituitarism following post snake bite dialysis mediated pituitary apoplexy. In all cases of snake bite, a common occurrence in our country the possibility of hypopituitarism should be kept in mind and the hormonal profile followed up closely along with the renal parameters.

Author Biographies

Niladri Bhowmick, Department of General Medicine, Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Post graduate trainee, Dept of General Medicine, IPGME&R

Jotideb Mukhopadhyay, Department of General Medicine, Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Professor, Dept of General Medicine

Soumyadip Kar, Department of General Medicine, Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Senior Resident

Amrita Das, Department of General Medicine, Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Junior Resident, Dept of General Medicine

References

Jameson J, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Loscalzo J. Harrison'sTM Principles of Internal Medicine, 20th edition; 2018

Whitaker R, Captain A Snakes of India: The Field Guide. Chennai: Draco Books; 2004;495.

Chugh KS. Snake-bite-induced acute renal failure in India. Kidney Int. 1989;35(3):891-907.

Pe T, Phillips RE, Warrell DA, Moore RA, Tiin nu swe. Acute and chronic pituitary failure resembling Sheehan’s syndrome following bites by Russell’s viper in Burma Lancet. 1987;2(8562):763-7.

Bhat S, Mukhopadhyay P, Raychaudhury A, Chowdhury S, Ghosh S. Predictors of hypopituitarism due to vasculotoxic snake bite with acute kidney injury. Pituitary. 2019;22(6):594-600

Downloads

Published

2020-08-26

How to Cite

Bhowmick, N., Mukhopadhyay, J., Kar, S., & Das, A. (2020). Snake bite induced delayed hypopituitarism: a rare case report. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 8(9), 3383–3385. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20203699

Issue

Section

Case Reports