Growth hormone replacement therapy improves hypopituitarism-associated hypoxemia in a patient after craniopharyngioma surgery: A case report

RATIONALE: There are some reports about hypoxemia related to hypopituitarism. However, little is known about the relationship between growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and hypoxemia. PATIENTS CONCERNS: A 23-year-old female presented with severe hypoxemia after the operations of craniopharyngioma. Laboratory tests found that serum growth hormone (GH) levels were extremely low. DIAGNOSIS: She was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency-related hypoxemia. INTERVENTIONS: In addition to oxygenation, low doses of GH replacement therapy was conducted for 3-month. OUTCOMES: After 3-month r-hGH replacement therapy, hypoxemia was improved significantly and the level of serum GH was elevated. LESSONS: We’ve already known that hypopituitarism may induce hypoxemia owing to multiple possible mechanisms according to previous literature. But little is known about growth hormone deficiency-related hypoxemia. Our case shows that GH replacement therapy is an effective treatment, and it's significant to examination the level of GH in serum for hypoxemia patients especially when the cause of hypoxemia is unknown.