HYPOPHYSECTOMY IN MAN: EXPERIENCES IN SEVERE DIABETES MELLITUS*

Abstract

Hypophysectomy was performed in 7 cases of severe diabetes mellitus with progressive malignant vascular complications. Three of these patients are alive from 1 to 2.5 years after the operation. In addition, hypophysectomy was performed in 2 diabetics who were followed postoperatively for 2 months. Following removal of the hypophysis, insulin sensitivity increased. Thus, insulin dosage could be markedly decreased. The effect of the operation on the vascular complications is difficult to appraise, since the retinopathy in all but 1 case was far advanced and irreversible. In 1 case there was no progression of retinopathy in a period of one year following hypophysectomy. In the patients who were hypertensive, the blood pressure became normal after the operation, and in 2 patients albuminuria of long standing disappeared.