A Rare Cause of Hypopituitarism - Sheehan Syndrome

Abstract

Sheehan syndrome is a rare complication of post-partum hemorrhage causing post-partum ischemic necrosis of the pituitary gland. It is a disease with declining incidence, more prevalent in developing countries. The incidence of Sheehan syndrome is 1 in 100,000 births. It was first described by a British pathologist Harold Leeming Sheehan in 1937.We present the case of a 42 year old female who presented with bilateral knee pain for 4 years, on over-the-counter steroids. She gave a history of lactational failure and secondary amenorrhea following childbirth. Her investigations revealed central hypothyroidism and she was diagnosed as Sheehan syndrome.