Primary empty sella, hyperprolactinemia, and isolated ACTH deficiency after postpartum hemorrhage.

In a 20-year-old woman, a complicated full-term delivery was followed by a 14-month history of galactorrhea, amenorrhea, and symptoms of hypocortisolism. Evaluation revealed the presence of an empty sella, hyperprolactinemia, and an isolated pituitary deficiency of ACTH, resulting in secondary adrenal insufficiency. The defect in ACTH secretion was apparently due to intrinsic pituitary rather than hypothalamic disease, because administration of lysine vasopressin did not stimulate ACTH release. An empty sella with hyperprolactinemia has been described before. However, to the authors' knowledge, isolated ACTH deficiency as a complication of postpartum hypopituitarism (atypical Sheehan's syndrome) in association with an empty sella and hyperprolactinemia has not previously been reported.