Serum lipid and leptin concentrations in patients with Sheehan syndrome

Background: Sheehan syndrome (SS) refers to the occurrence of hypopituitarism after parturition. Hypopituitary adults with growth hormone (GH) deficiency have abnormal body composition with increased fat mass. As leptin is secreted almost exclusively by fat cells and the circulating leptin level is proportional to total fat mass, it is expected that abnormal elevations of leptin concentrations are found in GH deficient hypopituitary patients. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the anthropometric, lipid and leptin levels in patients with SS. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with SS and 30 age and body mass index (BMI) matched controls were part in this study. All patients were stable on conventional replacement therapy for at least 6 months before the study. The subjects underwent detail clinical, biochemical, and hormone analysis. Results: Patients with SS on conventional replacement therapy showed significantly higher mean triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower high density cholesterol concentrations. The leptin levels were significantly raised in the patients with SS on standard replacement therapy compared with controls. The difference was more marked in obese cases versus obese controls than in lean cases and controls (P = 0.001). Conclusion: SS, a cause of GH deficiency. Our study demonstrated that patients with SS have an abnormal lipid profile, and raised leptin levels as compared to age and BMI matched controls.