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Traumatic brain injury and subarachnoid haemorrhage are conditions at high risk for hypopituitarism: screening study at 3 months after the brain injury
Author(s) -
Aimaretti Gianluca,
Ambrosio Maria Rosaria,
Di Somma Carolina,
Fusco Alessandra,
Cannavò Salvatore,
Gasperi Maurizio,
Scaroni Carla,
De Marinis Laura,
Benvenga Salvatore,
Uberti Ettore Carlo degli,
Lombardi Gaetano,
Mantero Franco,
Martino Enio,
Giordano Giulio,
Ghigo Ezio
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2004.02094.x
Subject(s) - hypopituitarism , traumatic brain injury , medicine , glasgow coma scale , diabetes insipidus , subarachnoid hemorrhage , pediatrics , neurosurgery , endocrinology , anesthesia , surgery , psychiatry
Summary objective Acquired hypopituitarism in adults is obviously suspected in patients with primary hypothalamic–pituitary diseases, particularly after neurosurgery and/or radiotherapy. That brain injuries (BI) can cause hypopituitarism is commonly stated and has been recently emphasized but the management of BI patients does not routinely include neuroendocrine evaluations. aim To clarify the occurrence of hypopituitarism in patients after traumatic brain injury (TBI) or subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) 3 months after the BI. subjects and methods The occurrence of hypopituitarism in conscious patients after traumatic brain injury [TBI, n = 100, 31 women, 69 men; age 37·1 ± 1·8 years; body mass index (BMI) 23·7 ± 0·4 kg/m 2 ; Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 3–15] or subarachnoid haemorrhage [SAH, n = 40, 14 men, 26 wpmen, 51·0 ± 2·0 years; 25·0 ± 0·6 kg/m 2 ; Fisher's scale 1–4] was studied in a multicentre study 3 months after the BI. All patients underwent wide basal hormonal evaluation; the GH/IGF‐I axis was evaluated by GHRH + arginine test and IGF‐I measurement. results In TBI patients, some degree of hypopituitarism was shown in 35%. Total, multiple and isolated deficits were present in 4, 6 and 25%, respectively. Diabetes insipidus was present in 4%. Secondary adrenal, thyroid and gonadal deficit was present in 8, 5 and 17%, respectively. Severe GH deficiency (GHD) was the most frequent pituitary defect (25%). In SAH patients, some degree of hypopituitarism was shown in 37·5%. Despite no total hypopituitarism, multiple and isolated deficits were present in 10 and 27·5%, respectively. Diabetes insipidus was present in 7·5%. Secondary adrenal, thyroid and gonadal deficit was present in 2·5, 7·5 and 12·5%, respectively. Severe GHD was the most frequent defect (25%). conclusions TBI and SAH are conditions associated with high risk of acquired hypopituitarism. The pituitary defect is often multiple and severe GHD is the most frequent defect. Thus neuroendocrine evaluations are always mandatory in patients after brain injuries.