Research Reports - Which patient requires neuroendocrine assessment following traumatic brain injury, when and how?
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2012 Aug 14
Glynn N, Agha A
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important public health problem, particularly
among young adults in industrialised countries. Hypopituitarism is a common
occurrence among survivors of traumatic brain injury and may contribute to the
associated morbidity seen in the acute and chronic phases following injury. The
available data suggest that survivors of moderate to severe TBI should undergo
screening for hypopituitarism particularly in the first year after injury. This
requires a close liaison between endocrinologists, neurosurgeons,
neuropsychologists, intensive care, and rehabilitation physicians. Patients who
suffer milder forms of TBI should also be considered for endocrine evaluation if
they exhibit any clinical features of pituitary hormone deficiencies.
