Hypothalamic and Pituitary Tumors

Hypothalamic and Pituitary Tumors

Shikhan syndrome
This is a deficiency of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The pathology occurs when there is a collapse during childbirth.
Shikhan's syndrome is considered as a heart attack in the pituitary gland after birth. In severe births, the increase in blood pressure and excessive perspiration cause the birth to produce various pathologies in the body. When a woman is pregnant, her pituitary gland grows larger than normal, but the blood supply remains the same. When the pathologies listed above occur after birth, the blood supply to the pituitary gland weakens. At this time, hypoxia occurs in the pituitary gland, which causes a heart attack in that part. Sometimes even pituitary necrosis develops after a heart attack. At this time, adenohypophic and lactotropin cells are damaged. The disease manifests its symptoms in a short time. Weakness, cessation and reduction of activity of mammary glands, lowering of arterial pressure are observed in patients. Later, hair loss, weight loss and anxiety appear. If the woman is examined and diagnosed in time, and treatment is not carried out, the course of the disease worsens, ovulation and pregnancy do not occur in women. Because the pituitary gland cannot restore this pathology on its own and requires timely treatment.
The results of checking the amount of hormones of the pituitary and hypothalamus in the blood are taken as the basis for the diagnosis of Shikhan syndrome.
Treatment consists of hormonal therapy along with the treatment of infantilism. The patient is prescribed synthetic progesterone treatment and gonadotropin for 2-3 months. When the treatment is satisfactory, the amount of gonadotropin is gradually reduced. This treatment temporarily blocks the function of the pituitary gland and later ensures its activation.