Hyperlipidaemia in patients with hypopituitarism

Five patients with hypopituitarism due to Sheehan's syndrome showed hyperlipidaemia of various lipoprotein phenotypes. Postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase activity was subnormal in 4 of the 5 patients and hepatic triglyceride lipase was markedly decreased in all patients studied. After supplementation of both corticosteroid and thyroid hormones, lipoprotein lipase activity was restored to normal within 2 months, while it took longer for hepatic triglyceride lipase to return to normal. Together with the normalization of the two lipase activities, hyperlipidaemia subsided. The findings suggest that reduced activities of the two lipases may, at least in part, account for the development of hyperlipidaemia in hypopituitarism. The study identifies a new group of patients with hyperlipidaemia secondary to a disorder in endocrine function.