Luteal phase deficiency during the early trimester in a case with secondary hypopituitarism following craniopharyngioma resection

Abstract

A 31-year-old woman, who had been diagnosed with craniopharyngioma (CP) at the age of 13, suffered secondary hypopituitarism after two surgical resections of CP, receiving supplement of levothyroxine, cortisone, and sequential estrogen and progesterone because of primary amenorrhea. She managed to conceive after ovulation induction with human menopausal gonadotropin. Luteal phase deficiency (LPD) was found during the first trimester, as the progesterone stayed at a low level between 0.07 and 1.63 ng/ml within seven gestational weeks, followed by a gradual rise from 4.01 up to 34.70 ng/ml in the 11th week, which was mainly secreted by the placenta. Estrogen and progesterone were administered to the patient as luteal support until the 12th week, who succeeded in delivering a healthy baby at term. In conclusion, the patient with hypopituitarism who develops severe LPD during the early pregnancy may need luteal support until 12th week.