Endocrinol Metab.  2015 Dec;30(4):502-508. 10.3803/EnM.2015.30.4.502.

Electrolyte Imbalance in Patients with Sheehan's Syndrome

• Lim CH
• Han JH
• Jin J
• Yu JE
• Chung JO
• Cho DH
• Chung DJ
• Chung MY

• KMID: 2169659
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2015.30.4.502

Abstract

BACKGROUND
We investigated the prevalence of electrolyte imbalance and the relationship between serum electrolyte and anterior pituitary hormone levels in patients with Sheehan's syndrome.
METHODS
In a retrospective study, we investigated 78 patients with Sheehan's syndrome. We also included 95 normal control subjects who underwent a combined anterior pituitary hormone stimulation test and showed normal hormonal responses.
RESULTS
In patients with Sheehan's syndrome, the serum levels of sodium, potassium, ionized calcium, magnesium, and inorganic phosphate were significantly lower than those in control subjects. The prevalence of hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypophosphatemia in patients with Sheehan's syndrome was 59.0% (n=46), 26.9% (n=21), 35.9% (n=28), 47.4% (n=37), and 23.1% (n=18), respectively. Levels of sodium and ionized calcium in serum were positively correlated with levels of all anterior pituitary hormones (all P<0.05). Levels of potassium in serum were positively correlated with adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and growth hormone (GH) levels (all P<0.05). Levels of inorganic phosphate in serum were positively correlated with levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and GH (all P<0.05), and levels of magnesium in serum were positively correlated with delta ACTH (P<0.01).
CONCLUSION
Electrolyte imbalance was common in patients with Sheehan's syndrome. Furthermore, the degree of anterior pituitary hormone deficiency relates to the degree of electrolyte disturbance in patients with this disease.

Keyword

Electrolytes; Hormones; Hypopituitarism

MeSH Terms

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Calcium
Electrolytes
Growth Hormone
Humans
Hypocalcemia
Hypokalemia
Hyponatremia
Hypophosphatemia
Hypopituitarism*
Magnesium
Pituitary Hormones, Anterior
Potassium
Prevalence
Prolactin
Retrospective Studies
Sodium
Thyrotropin
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Calcium
Electrolytes
Growth Hormone
Magnesium
Pituitary Hormones, Anterior
Potassium
Prolactin
Sodium
Thyrotropin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Prevalence of hormone deficiencies in patients with Sheehan's syndrome. GH, growth hormone; PRL, prolactin; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone; LH, luteinizing hormone; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone; ACTH, adrenocorticotrophic hormone.

• 

  Fig. 2 Prevalence of electrolyte imbalances in patients with Sheehan's syndrome.

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