J Korean Soc Endocrinol.  2006 Aug;21(4):333-337. 10.3803/jkes.2006.21.4.333.

A Case of Sheehan's Syndrome Presenting Central Diabetes Insipidus

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea.

Abstract

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.


MeSH Terms

Blood Transfusion
Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes Insipidus, Neurogenic*
Growth Hormone
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hypopituitarism*
Necrosis
Pituitary Gland, Anterior
Pituitary Gland, Posterior
Pituitary Hormones, Anterior
Postpartum Hemorrhage
Prolactin
Water Deprivation
Growth Hormone
Pituitary Hormones, Anterior
Prolactin

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Sella MRI. Sagital T1 weighted image shows pituitary fossa replaced by cerebrospinal fluid and the absence of normal posterior pituitary bright spot in the posterior pituitary gland.


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