A decade without diagnosis: Sheehan’s syndrome

Fábio A. Nascimento, Juliane Nery, Gustavo Lenci Marques, Felipe Dunin dos Santos, Mauricio de Carvalho

Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.

DOI: 10.4236/crcm.2013.28128                

Abstract

Sheehan’s Syndrome (SS) occurs as a result of ischemic pituitary necrosis due to severe post-partum hemorrhage. We report a 41-year-old woman with a history of severe postpartum hemorrhage 18 years prior to presentation. During this period of time, she experienced severe fatigue. Three months prior to being admitted to our hospital, the patient started to notice alopecia, generalized edema and cognitive impairment. After proper investigation, laboratory tests and clinical findings indicated panhypopituitarism. In addition to neuroimaging and past medical history, SS was diagnosed and treatment started. We emphasize the importance of thorough investigation, further diagnosis and management of this condition (especially in third world countries), since SS is a neurological and endocrinological emergency and potentially life threatening.

Keywords

Sheehan’s Syndrome; Pituitary Insufficiency; Empty Sella

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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