Cognitive deterioration due to GH deficiency in patients with traumatic brain injury: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether cognitive and behavioural disorders observed in TBI patients are due to hormonal deficits or to the brain injury itself.


METHODS
Transversal, between-group design.


METHODS
Studied 22 severe TBI patients (GCS < 8): 11 had isolated GH deficiency and 11 did not. Prepared detailed clinical reports on patients and performed physical examinations, standard biochemical and full blood count analysis. Patients underwent neuropsychological assessment and hormonal evaluation 6 months after TBI diagnosis.


RESULTS
TBI patients with GH deficiency show greater deficits in attention, executive functioning, memory and emotion than those without GH deficiency.


CONCLUSIONS
Results show GH-related cognitive impairment in patients who develop GH deficiency after TBI and suggest that treatment of GH deficiency would improve cognition. The clinical importance of these findings should be established to better understand the nature, magnitude and meaning of GH-related cognitive impairment in patients who develop GH deficiency after TBI.
Department of Experimental Psychology, Human Neuropsychology Laboratory, University of Seville, Spain. leoncarrion@us.es
J
J
León-Carrión
A
A
Leal-Cerro
F Murillo
FM
Cabezas
A Madrazo
AM
Atutxa
S García
SG
Gomez
J M Flores
JM
Cordero
A Soto
AS
Moreno
M D Rincón
MD
Ferrari
M R
MR
Domínguez-Morales
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013997:Time Factors
D019382:Human Growth Hormone