Relationship between plasma cortisol levels and stress ulcer following acute and severe head injury.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to investigate the relationship between plasma cortisol levels and stress ulcer following acute severe head injury.


METHODS
The plasma cortisol levels were prospectively measured by radioimmunoassay in 68 patients following acute head injury. The diagnosis of stress ulcer was based on clinical evidence and was confirmed by endoscopic examination.


RESULTS
Patients with stress ulcer and gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 30, 44.1%) were older than those without stress ulcer(38.2 +/- 7.9 vs. 28.3 +/- 9.7 years, p < 0.01). The combined rate of poor recovery and death in the stress ulcer patients (70.0%) was significantly higher than in the nonulcer patients (42.1%, p = 0.02). On each of the first 3 days following the head injury, the average plasma cortisol levels in the stress ulcer patients were higher than in the nonulcer patients (p < 0.01). Univariate analysis showed a positive relationship between plasma cortisol on admission and stress ulcer (r = 0.329, p = 0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma cortisol levels on admission (OR = 2.326, 95% CI = 1.982-2.466) and age (OR = 1.064, 95% CI = 0.861-1.219) were independent predictors of stress ulcer.


CONCLUSIONS
The data showed that acute severe head injury was associated with a significant increase in plasma cortisol. Plasma levels of cortisol and age were independent predictors of stress ulcer following acute head injury.
Li
Zhong-Min
ZM
Department of Neurosurgery, Liaocheng People's Hospital and Liaocheng Clinical School of Taishan Medical University, Liaocheng, PR China.
Wang
Le-Xin
LX
Jiang
Li-Cheng
LC
Zhu
Jian-Xin
JX
Geng
Feng-Yang
FY
Qiang
Fu
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000097:blood*; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D006854:Hydrocortisone