Hypopituitarism and COVID-19

Purpose: This review aims to collect and examine recent research findings regarding hypopituitarism and COVID-19, focusing on the virus’s impact on the pituitary gland and the outcomes for infected patients with hormonal deficiencies. Methods: Literature review using PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The search included the following terms: “COVID19” in combination with “Pituitary” and “Hypopituitarism”. Results: Many studies have aimed to evaluate the function of the pituitary gland in infected patients, revealing variable degrees of deficiencies. The results are very heterogenous mostly because many different tests and hormonal cut-off have been adopted. It is unclear whether primary virus damage or the inflammatory response is responsible for these hormonal alterations. Interestingly, pituitary defects may persist long after the initial infection, possibly contributing to the “Long COVID syndrome”. However, data on the recovery of pituitary function and long-term follow-up are not yet available. On the other hand, although findings are not consistent, patients with hypopituitarism may be at a higher risk for COVID-19 infection rate, complications, and mortality. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for endocrinologists. The endocrine system appears to be involved in both the acute phase of infection and the recovery period. Hypopituitarism can be a consequence of SARS-COV-2 infection, and patients with existing hypopituitarism may face higher risks of complications. It is advisable to educate these patients on how to adjust their replacement therapies. Long-term follow-up data on pituitary function after recovery from COVID-19 are needed.