title: Anterior pituitary dysfunction in moderate-to-severe chronic traumatic brain injury patients and the influence on functional outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of anterior pituitary dysfunction in moderate-to-severe chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. The investigation of a relationship between pituitary hormonal status and body mass index (BMI) in TBI patients by observing changes in BMI was conducted as well as an assessment of whether there is a difference in functional outcome related to anterior pituitary dysfunction in TBI patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five TBI patients and 30 normal controls underwent a series of standard endocrine tests for anterior pituitary hormone function. It was studied whether changes in BMI correlated with anterior pituitary hormone levels. This study also compared changes in mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE) and functional independence measure (FIM) scores between patients in the hormone-sufficient and -deficient groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anterior pituitary dysfunction was found in 31.1% of TBI patients. Changes in BMI statistically correlated with IGF-1 and basal cortisol levels. A meaningful difference was found between the hormone-sufficient and -deficient groups in light of the K-MMSE and FIM score gains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings strongly suggest that patients who suffer head trauma should be routinely tested for anterior pituitary hormone deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Gil Medical Centre, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Deok
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Deog Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ju Kang
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hee-Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Yoon-Ghil
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior