Osmosis video - Sheehan syndrome

Sheehan syndrome, also known as postpartum hypopituitarism, is a condition that affects women who have experienced postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). PPH causes ischemia to lactotrophs and other cells of the pituitary, causing them. This results in deficiencies of prolactin, growth hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone.

During pregnancy, pituitary cells increase in size and number, taking up more blood than usual. So, when there is PPH, these cells are prone to starve and become ischemic. An early symptom of Sheehan syndrome is agalactorrhea, whereas late symptoms include amenorrhea, low blood pressure, low blood sodium, and glucose levels, fatigue, and muscle loss. Sheehan's syndrome can be treated by replacing the deficient hormones, usually for a person's entire life.