Anterior pituitary dysfunction in moderate-to-severe chronic traumatic brain injury patients and the influence on functional outcome

作者：Park Ki Deok; Kim Deog Young; Lee Ju Kang; Nam Hee Seung; Park Yoon Ghil^*

来源：Brain Injury, 2010, 24(11): 1330-1335.

DOI：10.3109/02699052.2010.506863

• Traumatic brain injury
• pituitary dysfunction
• BMI
• functional outcome

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of anterior pituitary dysfunction in moderate-to-severe chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. The investigation of a relationship between pituitary hormonal status and body mass index (BMI) in TBI patients by observing changes in BMI was conducted as well as an assessment of whether there is a difference in functional outcome related to anterior pituitary dysfunction in TBI patients.
Methods: Forty-five TBI patients and 30 normal controls underwent a series of standard endocrine tests for anterior pituitary hormone function. It was studied whether changes in BMI correlated with anterior pituitary hormone levels. This study also compared changes in mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE) and functional independence measure (FIM) scores between patients in the hormone-sufficient and -deficient groups.
Results: Anterior pituitary dysfunction was found in 31.1% of TBI patients. Changes in BMI statistically correlated with IGF-1 and basal cortisol levels. A meaningful difference was found between the hormone-sufficient and -deficient groups in light of the K-MMSE and FIM score gains.
Conclusions: These findings strongly suggest that patients who suffer head trauma should be routinely tested for anterior pituitary hormone deficiency.

• 出版日期2010