Recognition of diabetes insipidus in postpartum hypopituitarism

The association of diabetes insipidus with postpartum hypopituitarism is unusual. This report presents a patient with both conditions. Evidence pointing to the pathogenesis of the diabetes insipidus is discussed. This case and selected others illustrate the wide spectrum in the severity of diabetes insipidus encountered in postpartum hypopituitarism, as well as the masking of symptoms caused by concomitant glucocorticoid insufficiency. Histopathologic and experimental evidence suggests that patients with hypopituitarism occurring postpartum might also display mild diabetes insipidus if challenged with antidiuretic stimuli. Diabetes insipidus may be a feature of postpartum hypopituitarism that is infrequently recognized.