Brief communication: pituitary volume and function in competing and retired male boxers.
BACKGROUND
Pituitary consequences of chronic head trauma in boxing have not been investigated in detail.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the pituitary function in retired or active amateur boxers.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, observational study.


METHODS
Turkey.


METHODS
61 actively competing (n = 44) or retired (n = 17) male boxers of the Turkish National Boxing Team.


METHODS
Body composition variables, pituitary volume (in 38 of 61 boxers), and pituitary function.


RESULTS
9 of 61 boxers (15%) had growth hormone (GH) deficiency and 5 of 61 boxers (8%) had adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency. All boxers with GH deficiency except 1 were retired from boxing. Of 17 retired boxers, 8 (47%) had GH deficiency. Retired boxers with GH deficiency had significantly lower pituitary volume than retired boxers with normal GH.


CONCLUSIONS
Pituitary volume was measured in only 38 of 61 boxers, and the study had no comparison group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that retired boxers have a high rate of pituitary dysfunction. Therefore, investigation of pituitary function in boxers, particularly retired ones, is recommended.
Tanriverdi
Fatih
F
Erciyes University Medical School, Kayseri, Turkey, and Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. fatihtan@erciyes.edu.tr
Unluhizarci
Kursad
K
Kocyigit
Ismail
I
Tuna
Ibrahim S
IS
Karaca
Zuleyha
Z
Durak
Ahmet C
AC
Selcuklu
Ahmet
A
Casanueva
Felipe F
FF
Kelestimur
Fahrettin
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000172:deficiency; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D001914:Boxing / Q000293:injuries*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020208:Brain Injury, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019370:Observation; D010901:Pituitary Function Tests; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014421:Turkey
D008055:Lipids; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone