A case of Sheehan’s syndrome that presented with a pericardial effusion

Su Jin Jeong,

Korean J Med > Volume 76(1); 2009 > Article

Original Article

The Korean Journal of Medicine 2009;76(1):78-84.

A case of Sheehan’s syndrome that presented with a pericardial effusion

Su Jin Jeong

심낭삼출액으로 발현한 쉬한증후군

정수진

Abstract

Pericardial effusions are found in as many as 30% of cases of primary hypothyroidism, but are extremely rare in cases of secondary hypothyroidism. We report a case of Sheehan’s syndrome that presented with a moderate pericardial effusion. A 44-year-old female was admitted to the hospital because of dyspnea and drowsiness. She had a history of postpartum hemorrhage and underwent a hysterectomy at the age of 32. Based on the biochemical analysis, the patient had severe panhypopituitarism. A chest x-ray revealed cardiomegaly and an echocardiogram showed the presence of a pericardial effusion. The pericardial effusion resolved completely with thyroxine and glucocorticoid replacement without pericardiocentesis. (Korean J Med 76:78-84, 2009)

Key Words: Hypothyroidism; Pericardial effusion; Sheehan’s syndrome