Pregnancy outcomes in women with panhypopituitarism: a population-based study

Abstract

Research question: What are the consequences of panhypopituitarism on pregnancy outcomes?

Design: Retrospective population-based study using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project - Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS). A dataset was created of all deliveries between 2004 and 2014 inclusive. Within this group, all deliveries to women who had a diagnosis of panhypopituitarism during pregnancy were identified as part of the study group (n = 120), and the remaining deliveries comprised the reference group (n = 8,732,641). A multivariate logistic regression analysis, controlling for confounding effects, was conducted to explore associations between panhypopituitarism and pregnancy complications, delivery and neonatal outcomes.

Results: No significant differences were found in the risk of developing gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, placental abruption, or preterm delivery delivering a small for gestational age neonate, or in the mode of delivery. There was a higher risk of developing maternal infection (odds ratio [OR] 3.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46-6.74) and congenital anomalies (OR 6.97, 95% CI 2.57-18.95); however, due to the small number of cases these results should be interpreted with caution.

Conclusions: Pregnancy outcomes of women with panhypopituitarism are comparable to those of the general population. Further studies are needed to assess the risk of congenital anomalies and maternal infection in pregnant women with panhypopituitarism.

Keywords: Growth hormone deficiency; Panhypopituitarism; Pregnancy complications.