The term "empty Turkish saddle" indicates the presence of pathology in the brain region where the pituitary gland is located. Having an ambiguous symptomatology, an ailment is not always diagnosed on time. This is what causes a delay in treatment.
What is SPD
The underdevelopment of the diaphragm prevents the process of the exchange of liquor in the cavity in the region of the sphenoid bone, this is what is called the empty Turkish saddle syndrome( SPTS).Absence of cerebrospinal fluid prevents the normal functioning of the pituitary gland. The body begins to regenerate, shrink in size and eventually deforms.
By types of SPTS it happens:
- primary;
- secondary.
Secondary manifestation after direct exposure to the pituitary region of the brain. In addition, many have a hereditary predisposition to insufficient development of the diaphragm.
Causes of
The presence of depletion in the pituitary gland may be manifested for the following reasons:
- genetic / congenital pathology;
- internal painful processes in the body;
- external factors that affect human health.
Symptoms of an empty Turkish saddle, having a primary type, are determined by the openness of the pituitary cavity from the birth of the child. And internal processes can be as follows:
- Changing the hormonal background. And it does not matter whether this process has artificially occurred or in a completely natural way. To natural, biological reasons are such as pubertal age;fourth and subsequent pregnancies;the period of menopause. Artificial causes: hormonal contraceptive drugs taken as a means of protection from unwanted pregnancy or other doctor appointments;treatment of diseases of the thyroid gland;abortions;operative intervention in the reproductive system, sex change and similar processes.
- Problems with the cardiovascular system of the body also increase the possibility of the emergence of SPTS.In particular, all those who suffer from elevated blood pressure, heart failure, circulatory disorders, tumors in the brain, and patients who have had cerebral hemorrhage are at the "risk zone" of the disease.
- Inflammatory processes of the body, which have a protracted character, as well as long-term treatment of viral infections with antibiotics are also the cause of the manifestation of SPTS;
- Overweight.
It should be noted that the presence of craniocerebral injuries, past radiation or chemotherapy courses, medical or surgical treatment of the pituitary gland is a direct consequence of the appearance of the symptoms of the empty Turkish saddle syndrome.
Symptoms of the disease
To clearly understand what may be the first sign of the disease, it is worth paying attention to all the manifestations of the body. Particularly clearly talk about the need for treatment of such violations:
- from the side of neurology;
- ophthalmic syndromes;
- endocrine changes in the body.
Symptoms of the neurological nature of
The main symptoms of the empty Turkish saddle syndrome are:
- headaches of a different nature, not localized in a separate area and having different duration / intensity;
- elevated temperature, which has a constant character;
- convulsive manifestations in the extremities, colic in the abdomen;
- sudden cases of syncope, chills, dyspnea;
- significant and sharp BP changes;
- state of causeless fear, mood changes, aggression or depression, recurring depressive states.
Signs of ophthalmic nature
If you experience the following symptoms, you should contact your doctor to begin treatment as early as possible.
- syndrome of bifurcation of objects;
- migraine, pain when moving the eyeball;
- permanent or periodic tear;
- the so-called "black dots" in the eyes;
- darkening, blurred vision, swelling of the eyeball.
Endocrinological problems
Of course, if a patient has noticed the appearance of changes in the thyroid gland or functional disorders of the genitals, he must always consult a doctor. But it is important to undergo a general study to ensure that treatment has not been localized for only one reason. So, the first signs of the syndrome of the empty Turkish saddle:
- menstrual cycle disorder. But there is no need to confuse the girl who has not yet established a cycle with symptoms of SPTS;
- enlargement of the thyroid gland;
- diabetes is of a non-sugar type;
- metabolic problems in the body;
- explicit expansion of parts of the body, no reason( pregnancy, weight gain for medical reasons).
Syndrome of an empty Turkish saddle often does not have obvious symptoms. The patient may have some ailments that arise from various causes and do not pay any attention to them. Headaches of a non-periodical nature, some disorders of metabolic processes in the body, malfunctions of the menstrual cycle - all these symptoms are familiar to 90% of women. However, more than half of the patients do not even suspect the severity of the disease. Therefore, pathological deviations can be detected only by a doctor, and self-medication can not be done in any case!
Diagnosis and treatment
MRI is used to diagnose the syndrome of an empty Turkish saddle. This is the best way to identify the disease itself and determine the procedure for treatment. Of course, it often happens that the disease is determined randomly, during the detection of symptoms of another disease. The fact is that the SPTS practically does not bring any obvious discomfort, therefore is most often diagnosed if the patient is treated with complaints about eyesight, heart and other organs of .Also, cases of detection of an empty Turkish saddle after a study of blood on the hormonal background are known.
Regarding treatment, it directly depends on the nature of complaints about the patient's condition. Do not self-medicate! If "everything hurts and nothing helps", it is worth to register with the therapist. And after diagnosing the disease, the doctor will prescribe an adequate treatment.
The primary type of syndrome does not require special interventions, so the patient is offered the following measures:
- brain testing;
- registration with a specialist;
- repeated brain examinations by various methods;
- revealing additional symptoms;
- recommendations on the conduct of a healthy lifestyle and feasible exercise.
If the symptoms of the empty Turkish saddle syndrome are of a secondary type, the following treatment measures are taken:
- administration of hormonal-type medications for the maintenance of brain processes and correction of disturbed processes in the endocrine system;
- , an operative intervention is necessary only in case of a real threat. For example, if the symptoms show a worsening of the brain, a loss of vision and other irreversible processes.
Folk remedies for healing from the SPTS did not show proper efficiency. Therefore, in case of ailments, it is necessary to contact a professional specialist.
