Hypopituitarism with secondary adrenocortical insufficiency and arginine vasopressin deficiency due to hypophysitis after COVID-19 vaccination: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Although vaccination against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has several side effects, hypopituitarism due to hypophysitis has rarely been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: An 83-year-old healthy woman, who had received her fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose 2 days before admission, presented to the emergency department with difficulty moving. On examination, impaired consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale: 14) and fever were observed. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the head revealed swelling from the sella turcica to the suprasellar region. Her morning serum cortisol level was low (4.4 µg/dL) and adrenocorticotropic hormone level was normal (21.6 pg/mL). Central hypothyroidism was also suspected (thyroid stimulating hormone, 0.46 µIU/mL; free triiodothyronine, 1.86 pg/mL; free thyroxine, 0.48 ng/dL). Secondary adrenocortical insufficiency, growth hormone deficiency, delayed gonadotropin response, and elevated prolactin levels were also observed. After administration of prednisolone and levothyroxine, her consciousness recovered. On the 7th day of admission, the patient developed polyuria, and arginine vasopressin deficiency was diagnosed using a hypertonic saline test. On the 15th day, the posterior pituitary gland showed a loss of high signal intensity and the polyuria resolved spontaneously. On the 134th day, the corticotropin-releasing hormone loading test showed a normal response; however, the thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test showed a low response. The patient's disease course was stable with continued thyroid and adrenal corticosteroid supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Herein, we report a rare case of anterior hypopituitarism and arginine vasopressin deficiency secondary to hypophysitis following COVID-19 vaccination.

Elemental analysis of hourly collected air filters with X-ray fluorescence under grazing incidence.

The X-ray fluorescence under grazing incidence condition (XRF-UGI) was applied for the direct analysis of aerosol filters. Particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) was collected hourly on polytetrafluoroethylene filters using a continuous PM monitor with a virtual impactor method. Although the sampling mass is in trace amounts of 5-30 µg, the metallic contents, such as V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Pb, can be measured at sub-ng m-3 detection limits. The effects of the non-uniformity and poor flatness of the PM filters were discussed with regard to the measurement repeatability. The relationship between the XRF-UGI intensities and the mass concentrations obtained via conventional X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis was confirmed using the fundamental parameter method. Finally, quantification was successfully demonstrated using the XRF-UGI results with the relative sensitivity factors.

Adrenal Insufficiency and Thyrotoxicosis Following Combined Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Use: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Destructive thyroiditis and secondary adrenal insufficiency are major endocrinological immune-related adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, the timing at which each event occurs most frequently after drug administration varies, and cases where multiple events occur simultaneously are rare. We encountered a patient who concurrently suffered from thyrotoxicosis and adrenal insufficiency. An 80-year-old woman with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) was diagnosed with stage IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs. Treatment with a combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab was initiated. Although she tested positive for thyroglobulin antibody and transient subclinical hyperthyroidism was observed after two courses, treatment with ICIs was continued. Four months later, treatment was discontinued due to drug-induced lung disease. One month after the last administration, the patient became unconscious and was admitted to another hospital, diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis, urinary tract infection, and sepsis. After acute-phase treatment, she was transferred to our hospital due to persistent fever and tachycardia. Thyrotoxicosis and adrenal insufficiency were observed, with high levels of free thyroxine, low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and cortisol levels. Treatment with extracellular fluids, potassium iodide, beta-blockers, and hydrocortisone was initiated, and the patient's condition improved. No other pituitary hormone deficiencies were observed. She was diagnosed with painless thyroiditis and secondary adrenal insufficiency based on the positive thyroglobulin antibody, negative TSH receptor antibody, decreased Doppler flow in thyroid ultrasonography, low adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and low response of ACTH and cortisol to corticotropin-releasing hormone loading test. MRI revealed no abnormalities. We report a case of thyrotoxicosis and secondary adrenal insufficiency five months after the first administration of nivolumab and ipilimumab. Careful follow-up and early detection of endocrine disorders are critical in patients treated with a combination of ICIs.