Sheehan's syndrome is a postpartum condition that exemplifies which disorder?

Sheehan's syndrome is a postpartum condition that exemplifies which disorder?

• A. Hyperpituitarism
• B. Hypopituitarism
• C. Primary adrenal insufficiency
• D. Panhypoparathyroidism

Answer: (B)

Sheehan's syndrome is postpartum pituitary infarction from severe hemorrhage, which causes hypopituitarism. During pregnancy the pituitary enlarges and its blood supply is relatively vulnerable, so massive postpartum bleeding can lead to ischemic necrosis of pituitary tissue. The resulting loss of pituitary hormones manifests as failure to lactate (low prolactin), secondary adrenal insufficiency (low ACTH), secondary hypothyroidism (low TSH), and reproductive dysfunction (low LH/FSH). This pattern—deficiency of pituitary hormones after a obstetric hemorrhage—defines hypopituitarism, not hyperpituitarism or primary disease of the adrenal glands or parathyroids.

Sheehan's syndrome is postpartum pituitary infarction from severe hemorrhage, which causes hypopituitarism. During pregnancy the pituitary enlarges and its blood supply is relatively vulnerable, so massive postpartum bleeding can lead to ischemic necrosis of pituitary tissue. The resulting loss of pituitary hormones manifests as failure to lactate (low prolactin), secondary adrenal insufficiency (low ACTH), secondary hypothyroidism (low TSH), and reproductive dysfunction (low LH/FSH). This pattern—deficiency of pituitary hormones after a obstetric hemorrhage—defines hypopituitarism, not hyperpituitarism or primary disease of the adrenal glands or parathyroids.