Sheehans syndrome is a known complication of pregnancy, It was described as a syndrome of hypopituitarysm due to acute ischemic necrosis of the anterior pituitary gland secondary to severe postpartum bleeding and shock. The neurophysis is usually preserved. But it can be involved in severe cases manifesting as diabetes insipidus. Because of its rare coexistence with Sheehans syndrome, diabetes insipidus is seldom recognized as a potential postpartum complication. The report describes a patient who developed Sheehans syndrome and diabetes insipidus immediately following delivery. Diabetes insipidus resolved spontaneously after 15 months, while panhypopituitarysm is persistent.
Dong Jin Kim, Nan Hee Kim, Ju Ri Park, Sae Jeong Yang, Hye Suk Kim, Hye Jin Yoo, Soo Yeon Park, Ohk Hyun Ryu, Kye Won Lee, Hee Young Kim, Ji A Seo, Sin Gon Kim, Kyung Mook Choi, Sei Hyun Baik, Dong Seop Choi
J Korean Endocr Soc. 2006;21(4):333-337. Published online August 1, 2006
Sheehan's syndrome occurs as a result of ischemic pituitary necrosis due to severe postpartum hemorrhage. The manifestations of this clinical syndrome are most often caused by a deficiency in the hormones produced by the anterior pituitary gland, whereas the neurohypophysis is usually preserved but can be involved in severe cases that manifest as diabetes insipidus. This is a report of Sheehan's syndrome that manifested with diabetes insipidus as presenting symptom 2 month's after delivery. The patient suffered massive bleeding, so received a blood transfusion. A combined pituitary stimulation and water deprivation test revealed deficiencies of not only anterior pituitary hormones, such as growth hormone and prolactin, but also of anti-diuretic hormone. We report this case, with a review of the literature.
Sang Hwa Kim, In Myung Yang, Cheol Young Park, Seung Joon Oh, Deog Yoon Kim, Jeong Taek Woo, Sung Woon Kim, Jin Woo Kim, Young Seol Kim, Sun Woo Kim, Young Kil Choi
J Korean Endocr Soc. 2001;16(1):39-53. Published online February 1, 2001
BACKGROUND ackground: Sheehan's syndrome secondary to severe postpartum hemorrhage is one of the major causes of pituitary insufficiency in Korea. Most of these patients do not manifest symptoms or signs of gross endocrinopathies. Earlier detection of pituitary insufficiency is of clinical importance. The combined pituitary stimulation test that uses the four hypothalamic releasing hormones is a rapid, safe, and effective way to evaluate anterior pituitary function. However, the criteria for a normal response has not been established in Korea. METHODS: Combined anterior pituitary stimulation tests were performed on fourteen healthy women who had no history of endocrine disease. Combined tests of anterior pituitary reserve were done no forty-five patients who suffered from massive postpartum hemorrhage which required transfusing, along with subsequent shock or changing consciousness and in thirty-nine patients who experienced mild postpartum hemorrhage. RESULTS: 1) In the severe hemorrhage group, thirty-three of forty-five women (73.3%) showed blunted responses in more than one of the anterior pituitary hormones in the combined pituitary stimulation tests. However, in the mild hemorrhage group, only eighteen of thirty-nine women (46.2%) demonstrated blunted responses of more than one of the anterior pituitary hormones. 2) In the severe hemorrhage group, the TSH response was blunted in twenty-five patients (55.6%), prolactin in eleven patients (24.4%), ACTH in ten patients (22.2%), LH in ten patients (22.2%), GH in nine patients (20%), and FSH in five patients (11.1%). 3) The results of combined pituitary stimulation tests in the normal control group were different from the results of other studies. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that the women who experienced a severe postpartum hemorrhage should be evaluated by using the combined pituitary stimulation test. Moreover, criteria for a normal response to the combined pituitary stimulation test should be established in Korea.