Table 1.

Recognized precipitating factors for pituitary apoplexy

•Major surgery, in particular cardiac surgery •Dynamic pituitary function tests with gonadotropin-releasing hormone, TSH-releasing hormone or corticotrophin-releasing hormone •Treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist •Treatment with anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin, heparin) and thrombolytic agents (e.g. streptokinase) •Coagulopathies (e.g. thrombocytopenia) •Initiation or withdrawal of dopamine receptor agonists (e.g. bromocriptine, cabergoline) or somatostatin analogs (e.g. octreotide) •Head injury •Acute systemic illness (e.g. acute myocardial infarction, severe sepsis)