Endocrine Diseases of Newborn

Congenital hypopituitarism results from a deficiency of any or all of the hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary gland or by the posterior pituitary gland. It is uncommon. The annual incidence ranges from 1 to 42 new cases per million and a prevalence of 300-455 cases per million. Reduced cortisol and/or aldosterone production may be the consequence of primary cortical adrenal deficiency or damage. Isolated cortisol insufficiency may also be a consequence of pituitary/hypothalamic ACTH/CRF deficiency. The definition of the lower normal limit of blood glucose is controversial. A common definition of hypoglycaemia is a plasma glucose level < 35 mg/dL in term or < 40 mg/dl in premature infants, although some studies have suggested 47-55 mg/dl. The definition of the upper normal limit of blood glucose in the newborn remains uncertain. A blood glucose level higher than 125 mg/dl or plasma glucose level > 150 mg/dl, regardless gestational age or postnatal age, are usually considered abnormal.