Subclinical hypopituitarism

The presence of subclinical or minor pituitary hormone deficiencies could be recognised in clinical practice and might represent intermediate situations among normal pituitary hormone secretion and clinical hypopituitarism. However, this entity has not been correctly identified and associated clinical impairment and even more, long-term consequences regarding to morbidity and mortality, strongly related to clinical hypopituitarism, has not been correctly settled. Furthermore, best test or methods for diagnosis and the cut off to define these intermediate situates are also unknown. With this purpose, long-term controlled studies are needed to define correctly this entity, the appropriate methods for diagnosis and the potential benefits of substitutive hormone therapy in detected cases. The present review will focus on the available evidence concerning the prevalence, clinical features and diagnosis of subclinical hypopituitarism. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.