title: [Pituitary insufficiency following head injury--how common is it, and what is to be done?].
abstract: In Germany,traumatic brain injury (TBI) has an annual incidence of approximately 200000. In contrast to earlier assumptions, pituitary insufficiency is a common complication of TBI, with a prevalence of 30-50%. Since the symptoms are often nonspecific and may be masked by the sequelae of head injury, it may go unrecognized and may possibly aggravate the symptomatology of such injury. It is therefore to be recommended that patients who suffer a head injury should be examined to exclude pituitary gland insufficiency, by measuring the basal hormone level--where necessary in combination with stimulation tests.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, Innere Medizin, Endokrinologie und Klinische Chemie, München.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: F V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uhl
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Stalla
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010901:Pituitary Function Tests; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000293:injuries*; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior