[Postpartum endocrine syndrome]

G Ducarme1, P Châtel, D Luton

  • 1Service de gynécologie obstétrique, hôpital Beaujon, Assistance publique-hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), université Paris-7, 100, boulevard du Général-Leclerc, 92110 Clichy, France. guillaume.ducarme@bjn.aphp.fr

Postpartum endocrine syndromes occur in the year after delivery. They are due to immunologic and vascular modifications during pregnancy. The Sheehan syndrome is the first described postpartum endocrine syndrome and consists on a hypophyse necrosis in relation with a hypovolemic shock during delivery. The immunologic consequences of the pregnancy are the most frequent, sometimes discrete and transitory. The physiological evolution of the endocrine glands during pregnancy and the most frequent post-partum endocrine syndromes are discussed: postpartum lymphocytic hypophysitis, thyroiditis and Sheehan' syndrome.

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