Sheehan syndrome

What it is

Sheehan syndrome is a rare, acquired, pituitary hormone deficiency disorder resulting from pituitary necrosis following peri- or postpartum hemorrhage characterized by various symptoms depending on resulting hormone decrease (e.g. failure or difficulty with lactation, oligo- or amenorrhea, hot flashes, decreased libido, weakness, fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, dizziness, decreased muscle mass, adrenal crisis). Secondary hypothyroidism and secondary adrenal insufficiency may also be presenting signs.

Key facts

Age of onset

Adult

Classified as

Malformation syndrome

Signs and symptoms

These ranges are how often a sign appears across everyone diagnosed, not a prediction for one person — most people have some of these and not others. Orphanet also records findings that are specifically absent in this disease; those are in the data but not listed here.

ICD-10 codes

ICD-10 has no distinct code for most rare diseases, so many are filed under the nearest available one. A shared code identifies the group, not this disease — the ORPHAcode above is what identifies it.

Related health topics

Reached through the ICD-10 categories this disease is filed under, so these describe the broader group rather than this disease specifically.

Benefit programs to look at

Programs whose eligibility touches the same ICD-10 categories. Eligibility is decided by the administering agency, never by this page.

Cross-references