Prevalence of Neuroendocrine Dysfunction in Patients Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury1

Although hypopituitarism is a known complication of head injury, it may be underrecognized due to its subtle clinical manifestations. The nonspecific symptoms may be masked by and may contribute to the physical and psychological sequelae of brain trauma. This study examines the prevalence of neuroen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2001-06, Vol.86 (6), p.2752-2756
Main Authors: Lieberman, Steven A., Oberoi, Asra L., Gilkison, Charles R., Masel, Brent E., Urban, Randall J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Although hypopituitarism is a known complication of head injury, it may be underrecognized due to its subtle clinical manifestations. The nonspecific symptoms may be masked by and may contribute to the physical and psychological sequelae of brain trauma. This study examines the prevalence of neuroendocrine abnormalities in patients rehabilitating from traumatic brain injury. Seventy adults (mean age, 31.5 ± 1.1 yr; range, 18–58; 46 men and 24 women) with traumatic brain injury an average of 49 ± 8 months before the study (median, 13 months) underwent a series of standard endocrine tests, including serum levels of TSH, free T4, insulin-like growth factor I, PRL, testosterone (males), and cosyntropin stimulation. Abnormal results of these tests were followed by dynamic tests of gonadotropin, TSH, and GH secretion. Glucagon stimulation testing in 48 subjects revealed GH deficiency (peak,
ISSN:0021-972X
1945-7197
DOI:10.1210/jcem.86.6.7592