title: Traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents: surveillance for pituitary dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children who sustain traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at risk for developing hypopituitarism, of which growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is the most common manifestation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of GHD and associated features following TBI among children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 32 children and adolescents were recruited from a pediatric TBI clinic. Participants were diagnosed with GHD based on insufficient growth hormone release during both spontaneous overnight testing and following arginine/glucagon administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GHD was diagnosed in 5/32 participants (16%). Those with GHD exhibited more rapid weight gain following injury than those without GHD and had lower levels of free thyroxine and follicle-stimulating hormone. Males with GHD had lower testosterone levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GHD following TBI is common in children and adolescents, underscoring the importance of assessing for GHD, including evaluating height and weight velocities after TBI. Children and adolescents with GHD may further exhibit absence or intermediate function for other pituitary hormones.
authors: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA.
authors: Kenneth W
authors: KW
authors: Norwood
authors: Mark D
authors: MD
authors: Deboer
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Gurka
authors: Michelle N
authors: MN
authors: Kuperminc
authors: Alan D
authors: AD
authors: Rogol
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Blackman
authors: Julia B
authors: JB
authors: Wamstad
authors: Marcia L
authors: ML
authors: Buck
authors: Peter D
authors: PD
authors: Patrick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005934:Glucagon / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D005934:Glucagon; D001120:Arginine; D013974:Thyroxine