Hypophysectomy for Diabetic Retinopathy

1 September 1956

journal article
research article
Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in A.M.A. Archives of Ophthalmology

Vol. 56 (3) , 416-425
https://doi.org/10.1001/archopht.1956.00930040424009

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy has become one of the most frequent causes of progressive, incurable blindness. Because of the urgency of this subject, this preliminary report is submitted of five cases treated in a new and radical fashion. This radical treatment consists of hypophysectomy, or surgical removal of the pituitary. The postoperative progress of the retinopathy in these cases suggests a possible beneficial effect, especially with regard to retinal and vitreous hemorrhages. However, the cases are too few, with retinopathy too advanced or followup too short, to permit anything approaching adequate evaluation. Chabanier¹was the first to report hypophysectomy on a diabetic patient. Hypophysectomy for diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy has been reported by Luft* (20 cases) and Kinsel⁴(4 cases). After hypophysectomy in Luft's series,† vision usually remained about the same or improved slightly. In 22 eyes of 11 patients followed from 3 to 24 months, vision improved in 8

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