Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Hypopituitarism is a known cause of bone mineral loss. Our study aimed to evaluate the frequency of osteopenia and osteoporosis in patients with Sheehan’s syndrome and to evaluate its management.

Subjects and methods: It is a retrospective longitudinal study concerning 60 cases of Sheehan’s syndrome that have had a bone mineral density measurement. The parameters of osteodensitometry, the received treatment and the follow up data were collected. The baseline parameters of osteodensitometry were compared to those of 60 age-, height- and weight- matched healthy control women.

Results: The mean age at osteodensitometry measurement was 49.4±9.9 years (range 25–76 years). Osteopenia was present in 25 patients (41.7%) and osteoporosis in 23 (38.3%). Bone mineral density was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.001). The odds-ratio of osteopenia-osteoporosis was 6.3. Low bone mineral mass concerned more frequently lumbar spine (P<0.05). Bone fracture was reported by three patients (5%). Only six of the osteoporotic patients were treated with bisphosphonates. Osteodensitometry was controlled in 15 cases after a mean duration of 6 years and showed an improvement in four cases.

Conclusion: Low bone mineral mass was very frequent in patients with Sheehan’s syndrome. Treatment was insufficient.