ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION As is the case with many organ systems, in pregnancy the pituitary gland undergoes profound changes in its anatomy and physiology. The normal endocrine milieu is altered and both corpus luteum and the placenta become additional sources of hormone secretion. As a consequence of physiological hormonal changes, the evaluation and assessment of pituitary functions in pregnant women differs from the non-pregnant state. Pregnancy can be regarded as a state of mild physiological acromegaly and the circulating cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels reach values in the range seen in Cushing’s disease. The alteration in physiology has consequences both for the evaluation of endocrine status and also for the management of concurrent endocrine disturbance.
