Ocular findings in Sheehan's syndrome

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Ophthalmology
• Pituitary Disorders

Background:

• Sheehan's syndrome (SS) is a common cause of hypopituitarism, primarily leading to growth hormone (GH) deficiency.
• While congenital GH deficiency is linked to ocular anomalies, adult GH deficiency's ocular effects, including central corneal thickness (CCT), intraocular pressure (IOP), and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), remain understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ocular anomalies in patients with Sheehan's syndrome and adult growth hormone deficiency.
• To evaluate central corneal thickness (CCT), intraocular pressure (IOP), and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study compared 33 Sheehan's syndrome patients with GH deficiency to 28 healthy controls.
• Ophthalmological evaluations included measurements of CCT, IOP, and RNFLT, alongside hormonal assessments.

Main Results:

• Patients with Sheehan's syndrome exhibited significantly lower mean CCT compared to controls (p < 0.001).
• No significant differences were observed in mean IOP or RNFLT between the groups.
• Mean CCT positively correlated with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels.

Conclusions:

• This study represents the first examination of ocular findings in Sheehan's syndrome and adult GH deficiency.
• Adult GH deficiency is associated with reduced central corneal thickness (CCT).