MedGen

AIP familial isolated pituitary adenoma (AIP-FIPA) is defined as the presence of an AIP germline pathogenic variant in an individual with a pituitary adenoma (regardless of family history). The most commonly occurring pituitary adenomas in this disorder are growth hormone-secreting adenomas (somatotropinoma), followed by prolactin-secreting adenomas (prolactinoma), growth hormone and prolactin co-secreting adenomas (somatomammotropinoma), and nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA). Rarely TSH-secreting adenomas (thyrotropinomas) are observed. Clinical findings result from excess hormone secretion, lack of hormone secretion, and/or mass effects (e.g., headaches, visual field loss). Within the same family, pituitary adenomas can be of the same or different type. Age of onset in AIP-FIPA is usually in the second or third decade. [from GeneReviews]

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) hypersecretion by corticotroph adenomas of the pituitary result in excess cortisol secretion, or Cushing disease. The clinical features of Cushing disease include central obesity, moon facies, 'buffalo hump,' diabetes, hypertension, fatigue, easy bruising, depression, and reproductive disorders. Cushing disease is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, mainly due to cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease and infections (summary by Perez-Rivas et al., 2015). Mutations in the USP8 gene, leading to an upregulated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR; 131550) pathway, have been identified in about 36 to 62% of corticotroph adenomas (summary by Mete and Lopes, 2017). [from OMIM]