The Symptoms Get Worse after Pregnancy in Sheehan's Syndrome: A Case Report

Sheehan’s syndrome, which is pituitary necrosis after severe postpartum hemorrhage and hypovolemia, may cause hypopituitarism immediately or several years later, depending on the degree of tissue destruction. We report an unusual case, in which a 55-year-old woman with Sheehan's syndrome got wo...

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Main Authors: Jingwen Hao, Min Liu, Zhaohui Mo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/271345
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author Jingwen Hao
Min Liu
Zhaohui Mo
author_facet Jingwen Hao
Min Liu
Zhaohui Mo
author_sort Jingwen Hao
collection DOAJ
description Sheehan’s syndrome, which is pituitary necrosis after severe postpartum hemorrhage and hypovolemia, may cause hypopituitarism immediately or several years later, depending on the degree of tissue destruction. We report an unusual case, in which a 55-year-old woman with Sheehan's syndrome got worse symptoms after spontaneous labor. In 1998, she had severe postpartum hemorrhage and pituitary necrosis during the third delivery, thus it was diagnosed as Sheehan’s syndrome by clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, and magnetic resonance imaging. She was treated by replacement therapy including hydrocortisone and levothyroxine sodium. However, she had the fourth spontaneous pregnancy in 2000 and got worse symptoms after delivery. We carefully concluded that pregnancy provided no evidence against the diagnosis of Sheehan’s syndrome because pregnancy might improve hypopituitarism by stimulating the pituitary remnant to undergo hyperplasia and irritating the placenta to secrete hormone. However, pregnancy might aggravate the symptoms by inducing autoimmunity as well. All in all, early diagnosis and adequate medical treatment are important to provide a good prognosis of Sheehan’s syndrome.
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spelling doaj-art-23409ab6eeec493a98366cbc4f9cd8d42025-08-20T02:04:39ZengWileyCase Reports in Medicine1687-96271687-96352012-01-01201210.1155/2012/271345271345The Symptoms Get Worse after Pregnancy in Sheehan's Syndrome: A Case ReportJingwen Hao0Min Liu1Zhaohui Mo2Department of Endocrinology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, ChinaSheehan’s syndrome, which is pituitary necrosis after severe postpartum hemorrhage and hypovolemia, may cause hypopituitarism immediately or several years later, depending on the degree of tissue destruction. We report an unusual case, in which a 55-year-old woman with Sheehan's syndrome got worse symptoms after spontaneous labor. In 1998, she had severe postpartum hemorrhage and pituitary necrosis during the third delivery, thus it was diagnosed as Sheehan’s syndrome by clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, and magnetic resonance imaging. She was treated by replacement therapy including hydrocortisone and levothyroxine sodium. However, she had the fourth spontaneous pregnancy in 2000 and got worse symptoms after delivery. We carefully concluded that pregnancy provided no evidence against the diagnosis of Sheehan’s syndrome because pregnancy might improve hypopituitarism by stimulating the pituitary remnant to undergo hyperplasia and irritating the placenta to secrete hormone. However, pregnancy might aggravate the symptoms by inducing autoimmunity as well. All in all, early diagnosis and adequate medical treatment are important to provide a good prognosis of Sheehan’s syndrome.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/271345
spellingShingle Jingwen Hao
Min Liu
Zhaohui Mo
The Symptoms Get Worse after Pregnancy in Sheehan's Syndrome: A Case Report
Case Reports in Medicine
title The Symptoms Get Worse after Pregnancy in Sheehan's Syndrome: A Case Report
title_full The Symptoms Get Worse after Pregnancy in Sheehan's Syndrome: A Case Report
title_fullStr The Symptoms Get Worse after Pregnancy in Sheehan's Syndrome: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed The Symptoms Get Worse after Pregnancy in Sheehan's Syndrome: A Case Report
title_short The Symptoms Get Worse after Pregnancy in Sheehan's Syndrome: A Case Report
title_sort symptoms get worse after pregnancy in sheehan s syndrome a case report
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/271345
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