Definition
Apoplexy is bleeding into a cavity or organ. There are a few forms of apoplexy, such as:
- Adrenal apoplexy—bleeding into the adrenal glands
- Pituitary apoplexy—bleeding into the pituitary gland
Pituitary Gland
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Causes
Apoplexy may be caused by:
- A tumor
- Hormonal imbalance
- Blood clot
- An illness
- Changes in blood volume or blood pressure
- Problems with blood clotting
Risk Factors
Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:
- Lack of hormones
- Prior surgery
- Bleeding problems
- Injury
- Severe blood loss during childbirth
Symptoms
Problems may be:
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lack of hunger
- Weight loss
- Belly pain
- Diarrhea
- Bluish skin color
- Fever
- Problems seeing
- Confusion
- Pain
- Tiredness
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done.
These tests may be done to look for signs of apoplexy:
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
Pictures may be taken. This can be done with:
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to stabilize the body. Other treatments will depend on the cause site of the apoplexy. For example:
- Medicine to correct hormonal imbalances
- Surgery to remove a tumor that is causing problems
Prevention
There are no known guidelines to prevent this problem.
RESOURCES:
Hormone Health Network—Endocrine Society
http://www.hormone.org
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
http://www.ninds.nih.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Institute for Health Information
https://www.cihi.ca
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca
REFERENCES:
Pituitary apoplexy . UCLA Health System website. Available at: http://pituitary.ucla.edu/pituitary-apoplexy. Accessed October 20, 2020.
Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD Last Updated: 5/14/2021