Thailand Medical News Warns That COVID-19 Infections And COVID-19 Vaccines Can Cause Pituitary Apoplexy And Possibly Pituitary Adenomas!

Many Are Unaware That SARS-Cov-2 Spike Proteins Can Also Affect The Pituitary Gland In A Variety Of Ways And Could Possibly Lead To Tumors!
 
Medical News: The pituitary gland, often referred to as the "master gland," plays a crucial role in regulating various processes within the body. Acting as a sensor, it detects the body's needs and communicates with different organs and glands throughout the body to ensure their proper function and maintain an optimal internal environment. This gland releases a diverse range of hormones into the bloodstream, serving as messengers that transmit information and regulate the activity of distant cells.


 
One of the hormones produced by the pituitary gland is prolactin, which stimulates milk production in the mammary glands. Additionally, it secretes hormones that act on the adrenal glands, thyroid gland, ovaries, and testes, prompting the production of other hormones. By controlling the secretion of these hormones, the pituitary gland governs essential physical functions and processes such as metabolism, growth, sexual maturation, reproduction, and blood pressure regulation.
 
The anterior pituitary gland, influenced by signals from the hypothalamus and hormone levels in the circulatory system, produces and releases the following hormones into the bloodstream:
 
-Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): Stimulates the adrenal glands to produce steroid hormones, primarily cortisol.
 
-Growth hormone: Regulates growth, metabolism, and body composition by acting on the liver, bones, adipose tissue (fat deposits), and muscles.
 
-Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): Also known as gonadotropins, these hormones stimulate sex hormone production, as well as the maturation of eggs and sperm in the ovaries and testes.
 
-Prolactin: Stimulates milk production in the mammary glands.
-Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): Stimulates the thyroid gland to release thyroid hormones.
 
Each of these hormones is produced by specific cells within the pituitary gland, except for LH and FSH, which are produced by the same cell.
 
In the posterior pituitary gland, two hormones produced by the hypothalamus are stored and then released into the bloodstream. These hormones are:
 
-Anti-diuretic hormone (also known as vasopressin): Controls water balance and blood pressure.
 
-Oxytocin: Stimulates uterine contractions during labor and milk secretion during breastfeeding.
 
Between the anterior and posterior pituitary lies the intermediate pituitary gland, also known as the pars intermedia. Cells in this region produce melanocyte-stimulating hormone, which stimulates the production of melanin in the skin. Melanin is a pigment that provides protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
 
Many are unaware that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is also able to the infect the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland located just below the hypothalamus, region that is also rich with ACE2 receptors that are facilitate SARS-CoV-2 cell entry. But studies have also showed that the p ituitary gland itself also expresses ACE-2 receptors though not as much as the hypothalamus region.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9023728/
 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8009460/
 
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.08.139329v1.full
 
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2020.573095/full
 
Studies and Medical News reports have already showed that SARS-CoV-2 is able to infect the pituitary gland and cause a variety of issues including hypopituitarism and endocrine dysfunctions.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-news-italian-study-reveals-that-sars-cov-2-is-able-to-affect-the-pituitary-gland-leading-to-possible-hypopituitarism-and-a-variety-of-disorde
 
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12020-021-02697-y
 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1521690X23000234
 
However, what is more concerning that many cases reports are emerging that both COVID-19 infections and also COVID-19 vaccines are able to cause the pituitary apoplexy and even are responsible for the rapid progression of existing pituitary adenomas and also the possible development of new pituitary tumors!
 
Pituitary apoplexy is a condition in which there is a hemorrhage or infarction of the pituitary gland. This disorder usually occurs in a pre-existing pituitary adenomas.
 
The symptoms of pituitary apoplexy vary depending on the extent of bleeding, cell death of pituitary gland tissue caused by lack of blood flow, and swelling (edema). The most common and prominent sign is a sudden and severe headache. In addition, more than half of affected individuals experience vision problems due to increased pressure on the nerves connecting the brain and eyes. These vision problems may manifest as double vision, drooping eyelid, or partial/full vision loss in one or both eyes.
 
Pituitary apoplexy can also lead to changes in brain function, resembling other neurological conditions such as meningitis. These additional symptoms can include confusion, fatigue, fever, nausea and vomiting, and sensitivity to light (photophobia).
 
Pituitary apoplexy can significantly impact hormonal function due to the damage to the pituitary gland. This, in turn, affects the function of other endocrine glands and the hormones they produce, as well as the bodily processes they regulate. One common hormonal complication associated with pituitary apoplexy is a deficiency in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This deficiency can have life-threatening consequences and impact the function of the adrenal glands. Symptoms of ACTH deficiency may include low blood pressure (hypotension), low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), low sodium levels (hyponatremia), nausea, and vomiting.
 
Some selected published case reports showing that SARS-CoV-2 infections leading to pituitary apoplexy and affecting existing pituitary adenomas are listed below:
 
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13102818.2022.2051738
 
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01455613231179714
 
https://academic.oup.com/jes/article/5/3/bvaa203/6056780
 
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11102-020-01080-w
 
https://www.cureus.com/articles/130669-pituitary-apoplexy-with-pituitary-macroadenoma-in-a-patient-with-asymptomatic-covid-19-a-case-report#!/
 
https://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/0090/ea0090ep669
 
https://casereports.bmj.com/content/14/7/e243607
 
https://surgicalneurologyint.com/surgicalint-articles/coronavirus-disease-2019-infection-and-pituitary-apoplexy-a-causal-relation-or-just-a-coincidence-a-case-report-and-review-of-the-literature/
 
https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0041-1742104
 
https://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/0081/ea0081p139
 
https://europepmc.org/article/med/36774609
 
https://www.fortunejournals.com/abstract/surgical-intervention-for-two-patients-suffering-from-pituitary-apoplexy-associated-with-covid19-2540.html
 
https://www.elsevier.es/en-revista-clinics-22-articulo-the-pituitary-gland-in-sars-cov-2-S1807593222033580
 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8089131/
 
Case reports of individuals developing pituitary apoplexy after receiving COVID-19 vaccines are also on the increase with a few selected cases listed here:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.1035482/full
 
https://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-medicina-clinica-2-articulo-case-report-pituitary-apoplexy-after-S0025775321006400
 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589238X22000158
 
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/10/12/2004
 
https://www.endocrinepractice.org/article/S1530-891X(21)00875-2/fulltext
 
https://academic.oup.com/jes/article/6/Supplement_1/A481/6788351
 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221462452200017X
 
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2023.1111581/full
 
https://www.m-jem.com/index.php/mjem/article/view/1087
 
A recent Japanese case report that is being updated showed reported the case of a patient with a giant pituitary neuroendocrine tumor presented along with acute visual loss due to pituitary apoplexy after receiving COVID-19 vaccination.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2023.1220098/abstract
 
The fact that the spike proteins are able to trigger thrombosis, various types of coagulopathies and endothelial dysfunctions along with sustained inflammation could be the driving forces behind various these manifestations of pituitary apoplexy. Coupled with the fact that the spike proteins are also able to disrupt various immune functions and also upregulate certain oncogenic pathways, these could be reasons for progressions of existing pituitary adenomas and also the possible onset of new pituitary tumors (this has yet to be proven but the way the SARS-CoV-2 virus is able to affect many cellular pathways, genes and proteases and this makes it very likely possible and researchers need to look into this area in depth). However further detailed studies are urgently warranted to validate these claims.
 
It should also be noted that the incidence of pituitary adenomas has increased in the last two years. It is projected that about 13,900 pituitary gland tumors will be diagnosed in the United States in 2023, making up about 17% of all primary brain tumors! (Source: ASCO)
 
In the meanwhile, doctors should pay more attention to post COVID individuals and also those that had been vaccinated when they complain of symptoms that could be linked to pituitary apoplexy and pituitary adenomas along with recommending them to attend regular health screenings.
 
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