Document Detail


The natural history of post-traumatic hypopituitarism: implications for assessment and treatment.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16378796     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PURPOSE: Hypopituitarism has been reported in up to half of long-term survivors of traumatic brain injury. We attempted to define the natural history of post-traumatic hypopituitarism to devise guidelines for the optimal timing of patients' assessment and hormone replacement. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients with severe or moderate head trauma were enrolled in a prospective study of pituitary function during the acute phase, at 6 months, and at 12 months after injury. Growth hormone and adrenocorticotropin hormone reserves were assessed using the glucagon stimulation test. Baseline serum concentrations of other anterior pituitary hormones were measured. Results were compared with normative data obtained from matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Nine patients (18%) had growth hormone deficiency in the acute phase; at 6 months, 5 patients recovered function and 2 new deficiencies were detected; at 12 months, 1 patient recovered, leaving 5 patients (10%) with growth hormone deficiency. Eight patients (16%) showed subnormal cortisol response in the acute phase; at 6 months, 4 patients had recovered and 5 new deficiencies were detected; all 9 patients had persistent abnormalities at 2 months. Forty patients (80%) had gonadotropin deficiency in the acute phase, of whom 29 (73%) recovered by 6 months and 34 (85%) recovered by 12 months. Thyrotropin deficiency was present in 1 patient in the acute phase, who recovered by 6 months; 1 new case was diagnosed at 6 months, which persisted at 12 months. CONCLUSION: After traumatic brain injury, early neuroendocrine abnormalities are sometimes transient, whereas late abnormalities present during the course of rehabilitation. A follow-up strategy with periodic evaluation is a necessary part of the optimal care for patients with traumatic brain injury.
Authors:
Amar Agha; Jack Phillips; Patrick O'Kelly; William Tormey; Christopher J Thompson
Related Documents :
8838886 - Computed tomography morphology of the adrenal glands of patients with addison's disease.
9367326 - Mr findings in hereditary isolated growth hormone deficiency.
175106 - Evaluation of pituitary-adrenal function in patients with chronic bronchial asthma foll...
2538676 - Different therapeutic efficacy of ketoconazole in patients with cushing's syndrome.
8027126 - Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after major reconstructive operations on ...
17667206 - Acetazolamide therapy for hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis in pediatric patients with ...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The American journal of medicine     Volume:  118     ISSN:  1555-7162     ISO Abbreviation:  Am. J. Med.     Publication Date:  2005 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-12-27     Completed Date:  2006-02-24     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0267200     Medline TA:  Am J Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1416     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Endocrinology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. amaragha@yahoo.com
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Acute Disease
Adult
Brain Injuries / complications*
Case-Control Studies
Female
Gonadotropins / deficiency
Human Growth Hormone / deficiency
Humans
Hypopituitarism / diagnosis,  epidemiology,  etiology*,  therapy*
Male
Middle Aged
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
Thyrotropin / deficiency
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Gonadotropins; 12629-01-5/Human Growth Hormone; 9002-71-5/Thyrotropin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Orthostatic instability in a population-based study of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Next Document:  Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in patients with prosthetic devices: costs and outcomes.