Open AccessSerum Cortisol Abnormalities after Craniocerebral Trauma
Author(s) -
Paul Steinbok,
Gordon Thompson
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
neurosurgery/neurosurgery online
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.485
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1081-1281
pISSN - 0148-396X
DOI - 10.1227/00006123-197911000-00003
Subject(s) - hypercortisolemia , medicine , dexamethasone , basal (medicine) , hydrocortisone , endocrinology , craniocerebral trauma , head injury , circadian rhythm , cortisol awakening response , head trauma , poison control , surgery , insulin , environmental health
Serial estimations of serum cortisol were performed in 49 patients with craniocerebral trauma. Abnormalities of serum cortisol, including alterations in diurnal rhythm and elevations of serum cortisol level, occurred in 21 patients. The frequency and severity of the abnormalities correlated with the severity of the head injury, and there was a trend suggesting that middle fossa basal skull fractures predisposed to cortisol abnormalities. A further 6 patients were studied to assess the effects of exogenous dexamethasone, and in all patients there was suppression of elevated serum cortisol levels by the dexamethasone. The findings suggest that hypercortisolemia after head injury is related to an alteration rather than an abolition of the normal feedback mechanism.