Which patient requires neuroendocrine assessment following traumatic brain injury, when and how?

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important public health problem, particularly among young adults in industrialized countries. Hypopituitarism is a common occurrence among survivors of TBI and may contribute to the associated morbidity seen in the acute and chronic phases following injury. The available data suggest that survivors of moderate to severe TBI should undergo screening for hypopituitarism particularly in the first year after injury. This requires a close liaison between endocrinologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, intensive care and rehabilitation physicians. Patients who suffer milder forms of TBI should also be considered for endocrine evaluation if they exhibit any clinical features of pituitary hormone deficiencies.