Guest guest Posted December 8, 2004 Report Share Posted December 8, 2004 Dear Rhia, Namaste. Thank you for your email. Medical Background: Autoimmune hypophysitis is a chronic inflammation of the pituitary gland caused by autoimmunity. This disease is most commonly known in the literature as lymphocytic hypophysitis, although the term " lymphocytic " is imprecise. After the original description, the disease was called, more precisely, " lymphocytic adenohypophysitis " because the lymphocytic infiltration was limited to the anterior hypophysis. It was then realized that the autoimmune attack could also and exclusively involve the infundibular stem and the posterior lobe, and so the term " lymphocytic infundibulo-neurohypophysitis " was created. Finally it was realized that the lymphocytic infiltration can affect both the adenoyhypophysis and the infunbibulo-neurohypophysis and so the term " lymphocytic infundibulo-hypophysitis " arose. We prefer the simpler term autoimmune hypophysitis, followed by the specific anatomic location when known (anterior, posterior or both). Autoimmune hypophysitis was first described in 1962 by Goudie and Pinkerton (from Glasgow, UK). They reported a 22 year old woman who died of adrenal insufficiency 14 months after the birth of her second child. Symptoms had begun approximately 3 months post-partum, with lassitude, goiter and amenorrhea. At autopsy the anterior pituitary was diffusely infiltrated by lymphocytes (the posterior lobe was normal), the thyroid showed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and the adrenal glands could not be found and thus presumed severely atrophic. We found, however, in the autopsy archives of the Johns Hopkins hospital, an earlier patient (1932) with the features of autoimmune hypophysitis. Autoimmune hypophysitis is rare, but part of the rarity is due to the fact that many physicians do not know about it and therefore do not diagnose it. Introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the mid 1980s has made physicians more aware of autoimmune hypophysitis. Symptoms The clinical presentation of Autoimmune Hypophysitis includes 4 categories of symptoms. -The most common are symptoms derived from mass effect, such as headaches (47% of patients) and visual disturbances (33%). -Then there are symptoms derived from the hypofunction of one or more of the adenohypophyseal hormones: the most frequent endocrine cells affected are the corticotropes (33%) and the thyreotropes (13%), followed by lactotropes (31%) and gondadotropes (26%). -The third category includes the symptoms indicating an involvement of the neurohypophysis (polyuria and polydipsia), which were present in 27% of the patients. -Last are the symptoms due to hyperprolactinemia (mainly amenorrhea/oligomenorrhea and galactorrhea), which were present in 23% of the patients. These symptoms of AH are indistinguishable from those of any expanding mass located the sella turcica. Typical Clinical Scenarios Autoimmune Hypophysitis affects young females most frequently In 81% of cases, Autoimmune Hypophysitis affects women. Several autoimmune processes prefer females as their favorite " target " . This high prevalence probably correlates with genetic and environmental factors. Because autoimmune processes are more prevalent after puberty or near menopause, researchers think that estrogens may represent one of the multifactorial triggers in developing autoimmune disorders. This theory can also explain why, sometimes, estrogen treatment may worsen some autoimmune diseases (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, SLE, for example). (learn more about autoimmunity) Females are affected especially in the early postpartum period Autoimmune Hypophysitis usually becomes clinically evident after a delivery, in the early postpartum period. The reason for this, is not completely known, but has been observed in other autoimmune diseases, such as in autoimmune thyroid diseases. The most accepted theory is based on immunological and hormonal bases. During pregnancy, the autoimmune system turns off some of the physiologic ways to discovering the exogenous enemies, because a tolerance of the fetus (half belongs to the mother, but half to the father) is needed. After delivery, the immune system turns its defenses back on. This can also produce an attack against the self, as an autoimmune reaction occurs. The role of the hormones in triggering autoimmune disease has been studied for a long time. The hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy and after delivery, may influence the autoimmune overreaction, but these putative sex differences need to be well established. Early symptoms are visual impairment and headache The autoimmune process produces the enlargement of the pituitary, because a lot of autoimmune cells, such as lymphocytes and others hematopoietic cells, migrate into the pituitary tissue. The gland situated just behind the optic chiasm, starts to press the optical structures. The result of this anatomical injury is a visual impairment: the patients reports that they cannot see things as well. Specifically, the peripheral part of the field of vision decreases, determining the clinical condition also named Bitemporal Hemianopsia. Hemianopsia derives from the old Greek: " hemi " means a half and " anopsy " means without vision; " bitemporally " refers to the fact that both halves near the temporal bones of the skull are deficient. For this reason ophthalmologists are sometimes the physicians which diagnose the disease first, because the patient reports impaired peripheral vision. Another frequent symptom is headache. This is probably caused by the compression that the inflamed and enlarged gland produces on the dura mater, the membrane covering the brain. Usually tends to recover spontaneously, but sometimes a persistent, partial or total, pituitary defect can remain Autoimmune Hypophysitis differs from other autoimmune diseases. The visual impairment can represent the proof of the gland enlargement, without any sign of hormonal defect. But, especially when the field of vision contraction is the first symptom, a wrong diagnosis can be made, because of the radiological misunderstanding. Clinical history (recent pregnancy, sex, and a family history for autoimmune disease) can help in the correct handling of the patient. Sometimes the autoimmune process is so aggressive that most of the gland is injured. In this case a hormonal defect is present, because pituitary is no longer able to produce those hormones necessary to regulate the function of the peripheral endocrine gland. The most important and dangerous hormone deficiency is that which affects the adrenal glands. In fact, a rapid and severe develop in cortisol production, can cause cardiovascular failure (hypovolemic shock) and subsequently death. But also thyroid and gonadal functions could be affected, and respectively hypothyroidism or a precocious menopause (with infertility) can develop. When the clinic history suggests that one or more hormones are defective, a functional study of the gland is needed. The hormone defect can be transient or, unlikely, persistent. In the last case, a hormone replacement therapy is needed for the rest of the patient's life. Source: John Hopkins Pathology, Hypophysitis Research Center Pranic Healing: 1. Invoke and scan before, during and after treatment. 2. General sweeping several times. 3. Apply pranic psychotherapy for stress. 4. Localized thorough sweeping on the front, sides and back of the lungs. Directly energize the lungs through the back of the lungs with LWG, LWO and LWR. Point your fingers away from the patient's head when energizing with O. 5. Localized thorough sweeping on the basic chakra alternately with LWG and LWO. Energize it with LWR. 6. Localized thorough sweeping on the arms and legs with emphasis on their minor chakrasalternately with LWG and LWO. Energize the minor chakras with lWR. 7. Localized thorough sweeping on the front and back heart chakra. Energize the heart chakra through the back heart chakra with LWG and more of ordinary LWV. 8. Localized thorough sweeping on the front and back solar plexus chakra. Energize with LWG and then with more of ordinary LWV. 9. For experienced, advanced pranic healers, apply localized thorough sweeping on the front and back solar plexus chakra, and on the liver alternately with LWG and LWO. Energize the solar plexus chakra with LWB, LWG and then with LWO. 10. Localized thorough sweeping on the front and back spleen chakra with LWG. Energize the spleen chakra wit LWG then with oridnary LWV. This has to be done with caution. 11. Localized thorough sweeping on the kidneys alternately with LWG and LWO. Energize with LWR. 12. Localized thorough sweeping on the meng mein chakra. 13. Localized thorough sweeping on the sex chakra alternately with LWG and LWO. Energize with LWR. 14. Localized thorough sweeping on the throat chakra. Energize with a little of LWG then with more of ordinary LWV. 15. Localized thorough sweeping on the anja chakra and the pituitary gland alternately with LWG and ordinary LWV. 16. Energize the pituitary gland with LWB for localizing effect. 17. Energize the pituitary gland and the ajna chakra with a little LWG then with more of ordinary LWV. While energizing the ajna chakra, gently but firmly instruct the ajna chakra to normalize, and to harmonize all the other chakras and organs. 18. Stabilize and release projected pranic energy. 19. Repeat treatment three times per week. Supplementary: 1. Regular proper practice of the Meditation on Twin Hearts everyday. Alternate MTH for psychological well-being with MTH for physical healing. 2. Pranic abdominal breathing for 5 to 10 minutes several times per day especially when experiencing stress. 3. Regular bath in water with salt. Love, Marilette ====================================================== Hello Marilette Hope it's all going well for you. We have chatted before a few months back about a very dear girlfirend of mine with a benign tumour in her breast. Since those emails she has now been recently diagnosed (to this stage anyway) with polycystic fibrosis and after an MRI, what I imagine to be getting closer to the root cause of her condition in western medical terms, with autoimmune hypophysitis. The manifestations of the inflammation are that she is not producing any cortisone, her blood sugar levels are all over the place and she hasn't menstruated since July - for all of these indications she is taking medication, but she has been told that nothing can be done directly for the pituatary inflammation and that either it will spontaneously disappear or she may be taking such medication for life. In PH terms, how does an/any autoimmune disease fit in - are we dealing more with a pranic psychotherapy situation here? Specifically for the pituatary, the Ajna and................... I started to list other chakras but I realise that all chakras will need to be treated as the whole endocrine system needs attention. Also a couple of years ago, most of her thyroid was removed due to nodes, but ongoing blood tests have indicated no need for thyroid hormone replacements. She's getting really worn down and out. There is a bit of a window of opportunity here while her boss (who is a difficult woman and an energy vampire - I don't say this lightly) is away for three months. If you have any thoughts or suggestions they would be very gratefully received. This email is being sent from my work email address so it's fine to reply here, or to my home address which is rhiannondouglas Thank you and blessings Rhia ===== Pranic Healing is not intended to replace orthodox medicine, but rather to complement it. If symptoms persist or the ailment is severe, please consult immediately a medical doctor and a Certified Pranic Healer . ~ Master Choa Kok Sui Miracles do not happen in contradiction to nature, but only to that which is known to us in nature. ~ St. Augustine Ask or read the uptodate pranic healing protocols by joining the group through http://health./ For the latest International Information regarding GMCKS Pranic Healing, visit http://www.pranichealing.org. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.