Investigation of antihypothalamus and antipituitary antibodies in amateur boxers: is chronic repetitive head trauma-induced pituitary dysfunction associated with autoimmunity?

Abstract

This study demonstrates for the first time the presence of AHAs and APAs in boxers who were exposed to sports-related head trauma. Moreover, the present investigation provides preliminary evidence that AHAs are associated with the development of pituitary dysfunction in boxers, thus suggesting that autoimmunity may have a role in the pathogenesis.