Prospective Longitudinal Study Assesses Pituitary Function After Traumatic Brain Injury and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Recent data suggest that hypopituitarism is a frequent complication following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), conditions characterized by significant brain disruption. However, most existing evidence relies on retrospective analyses, which can be prone to bias and lack detailed acute-phase assessments. A critical gap exists in prospective, longitudinal studies that systematically evaluate anterior pituitary function from the immediate post-injury period, which is essential for understanding the true incidence, progression, and clinical impact of endocrine dysfunction in these patient populations.

This prospective, longitudinal study assessed pituitary functions in patients experiencing TBI and/or SAH, alongside a control group of trauma patients without brain involvement. Basal anterior pituitary lobe hormone, IGF-1, and testosterone serum levels were measured using Immulite 2000 within the first 8 hours post-injury. Detailed endocrine tests, including insulin-induced hypoglycemia or a combined GHRH-arginine-CRH-LHRH test, were performed at 4 and 12 months post-injury to evaluate dynamic pituitary responses and identify potential deficiencies.