Sheehan's syndrome of hypothalamic origin in a woman with juvenile diabetes mellitus.

A 25-year-old woman with severe diabetes mellitus since the age of 7 developed anterior pituitary insufficiency after pregnancy toxaemia with hypofunction of the thyroid, ovaries and adrenal cortex. Following the development of Sheehan's syndrome, her insulin requirment decreased dramatically. I.v. administration of TRH, LRH and vasopressin induced nearly normal pituitary response levels of TSH, LH and plasma cortisol, indicating a hypothalamic damage as the primary aetiological factor.