Acute Sheehan’s syndrome
Authors:
Aurel Dobiaš 1,2
; Andrea Klčovanská 3; Ivan Dečkov 1; Róbert Hlávek 1,2
Authors‘ workplace:
Gynekologicko-pôrodnícka klinika FN Trnava, Slovenská republika
1; Fakulta zdravotníctva a sociálnej práce, TU Trnava, Slovenská republika
2; Klinika vnútorného lekárstva FN Trnava, Slovenská republika
3
Published in:
Ceska Gynekol 2025; 90(1): 38-43
Category:
Case Report
doi:
https://doi.org/10.48095/cccg202538
Overview
Objective: To present a case of a patient who developed acute Sheehan’s syndrome, despite adequate estimated blood loss. Case report: Sheehan’s syndrome is a relatively rare disease with various incidences, mainly due to different obstetric care factors in individual countries. Pathogenetic mechanisms are not fully understood. An important factor is reduced blood flow through the pituitary arteries caused by hypotension in the setting of postpartum hemorrhage. Subsequent clinical manifestations depend on the extent of damage to the pituitary gland, and consequently, on the loss of individual hormones, the secretion of which is controlled by the pituitary gland. Most patients are diagnosed years later. Our case describes a patient with Sheehan’s syndrome that developed in the early postpartum period. The patient was successfully diagnosed and adequate replacement therapy was started. Conclusion: In summary, acute Sheehan’s syndrome is a rare occurrence. Agalactia, amenorrhea, fatigue, and other non-specific symptoms should be considered despite its rarity.
Keywords:
puerperium – hypopituitarism – acute Sheehan syndrome
Sources
1. Zargar AH, Singh B, Laway SR et al. Epidemiologic aspects of postpartum pituitary hypofunction (Sheehan’s syndrome). Fertil Steril 2005; 84 (2): 523–528. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert. 2005.02.022.
2. Gokalp D, Alpagat G, Tuzcu A et al. Four decades without diagnosis: Sheehan’s syndrome, a retrospective analysis. Gynecol Endocrinol 2016; 32 (11): 904–907. doi: 10.1080/095 13590.2016.1190331.
3. Abs R, Bengtsson BA, Hernberg-Stâhl E et al. GH replacement in 1034 growth hormone deficient hypopituitary adults: demographic and clinical characteristics, dosing and safety. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1999; 50 (6): 703–713. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2265.1999.00 695.x.
4. Kristjansdottir HL, Bodvarsdottir SP, Sigurjonsdottir HA. Sheehan’s syndrome in modern times: a nationwide retrospective study in Iceland. Eur J Endocrinol 2011; 164 (3): 349–354. doi: 10.1530/EJE-10-1004.
5. Dinç H, Esen F, Demirci A et al. Pituitary dimensions and volume measurements in pregnancy and post partum. MR assessment. Acta Radiol 1998; 39 (1): 64–69. doi: 10.1080/02841859809 172152.
6. Diri H, Tanriverdi F, Karaca Z et al. Extensive investigation of 114 patients with Sheehan’s syndrome: a continuing disorder. Eur J Endocrinol 2014; 171 (3): 311–318. doi: 10.1530/EJE-14- 0244.
7. De Bellis A, Kelestimur F, Sinisi AA et al. Anti-hypothalamus and anti-pituitary antibodies may contribute to perpetuate the hypopituitarism in patients with Sheehan’s syndrome. Eur J Endocrinol 2008; 158 (2): 147–152. doi: 10.1530/EJE-07-0647.
8. González-González JG, Borjas-Almaguer OD, Salcido-Montenegro A et al. Sheehan’s syndrome revisited: underlying autoimmunity or hypoperfusion? Int J Endocrinol 2018; 2018: 8415860. doi: 10.1155/2018/8415860.
9. Gokalp D, Tuzcu A, Bahceci M et al. Analysis of thrombophilic genetic mutations in patients with Sheehan’s syndrome: is thrombophilia responsible for the pathogenesis of Sheehan’s syndrome? Pituitary 2011; 14 (2): 168–173. doi: 10.1007/s11102-010-0276-x.
10. Diri H, Sener EF, Bayram F et al. Etiopathogenesis of Sheehan’s syndrome: roles of coagulation factors and TNF-alpha. Int J Endocrinol 2014; 2014: 514891. doi: 10.1155/2014/514891.
11. Ramiandrasoa C, Castinetti F, Raingeard I et al. Delayed diagnosis of Sheehan’s syndrome in a developed country: a retrospective cohort study. Eur J Endocrinol 2013; 169 (4): 431–438. doi: 10.1530/EJE-13-0279.
12. Güven M, Bayram F, Güven K et al. Evaluation of patients admitted with hypoglycaemia to a teaching hospital in Central Anatolia. Postgrad Med J 2000; 76 (893): 150–152. doi: 10.1136/pmj.76.893.150.
13. Matsuzaki S, Endo M, Ueda Y et al. A case of acute Sheehan’s syndrome and literature review: a rare but life-threatening complication of postpartum hemorrhage. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2017; 17 (1): 188. doi: 10.1186/s12884-017- 1380-y.
14. Dejager S, Gerber S, Foubert L et al. Sheehan’s syndrome: differential diagnosis in the acute phase. J Intern Med 1998; 244 (3): 261–266. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2796.1998.00 370.x.
15. Atmaca H, Tanriverdi F, Gokce C et al. Posterior pituitary function in Sheehan’s syndrome. Eur J Endocrinol 2007; 156 (5): 563–567. doi: 10.1530/EJE-06-0727.
16. Sheehan HL, Whitehead R. The neurohypophysis in post-partum hypopituitarism. J Pathol Bacteriol 1963; 85 (1): 145–169. doi: 10.1002/path.1700850115.
17. Diri H, Karaca Z, Tanriverdi F et al. Sheehan’s syndrome: new insights into an old disease. Endocrine 2016; 51 (1): 22–31. doi: 10.1007/s12020-015-0726-3.
18. Ozkan Y, Colak R. Sheehan syndrome: clinical and laboratory evaluation of 20 cases. Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2005; 26 (3): 257–260.
19. Hashimoto K, Takao T, Makino S. Lymphocytic adenohypophysitis and lymphocytic infundibuloneurohypophysitis. Endocr J 1997; 44 (1): 1–10. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.44.1.
ORCID autóra
A. Dobiaš 0009-0009-4860-8131
Doručené/Submitted: 27. 8. 2024
Prijaté/Accepted: 10. 10. 2024
MUDr. Aurel Dobiaš
Gynekologicko-pôrodnícka klinika
FN Trnava
Andreja Žarnova 11
917 02 Trnava
Slovenská republika
aureldobias@gmail.com
Labels
Paediatric gynaecology Gynaecology and obstetrics Reproduction medicineArticle was published in
Czech Gynaecology

Most read in this issue
- Diagnosis and treatment of peripartum haemorrhage, consensus of the interdisciplinary working group by the modified ACCORD method
- Sexual function in women with pelvic organ prolapse
- Clinical significance of quantification and immunophenotyping of uterine NK cells in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility
- Infertility stress and coping strategies in women and men undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment