Sheehan's syndrome

Sheehan's Syndrome

Sheehan's syndrome (/ʃiːhænz/; also known as postpartum hypopituitarism or postpartum pituitary necrosis) is a rare, but serious endocrine condition that affects women who lose a life-threatening amount of blood in childbirth or who have severe low blood pressure during or after childbirth.

Etymology

The condition is named after Dr. Harold Leeming Sheehan, a British pathologist who first described the condition in 1937.

Definition

Sheehan's syndrome is a condition that affects women who have severe pregnancy complications. It is characterized by the damage to the pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of the brain. This damage is caused by severe blood loss or extremely low blood pressure during or after childbirth. The pituitary gland is responsible for producing several hormones, and damage to this gland can lead to a hormone deficiency, which can affect a woman's health in various ways.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Sheehan's syndrome can develop gradually or suddenly. They may include fatigue, loss of body hair, inability to produce milk for breastfeeding, irregular or absent menstrual periods, and low blood pressure.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Sheehan's syndrome involves a thorough medical history and physical examination, as well as blood tests to measure hormone levels. In some cases, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may be used to check for damage to the pituitary gland.

Treatment

Treatment for Sheehan's syndrome involves hormone replacement therapy to restore the normal levels of hormones in the body. This may include medications to replace thyroid hormone, cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Sheehan's syndrome
Wikipedia's article - Sheehan's syndrome

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