Secondary hypogonadism after traumatic brain injury: a case report
Krysiak, R.; Szkróbka, W.; Okopień, B.
Przeglad Lekarski 71(6): 352-354
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-2240 PMID: 25344978 Document Number: 676257
In the light of the recent studies it seems that traumatic brain injury-induced pituitary hormones deficiency occurs much more frequently than previously thought. Anterior pituitary hormone dysfunction may be an important feature of long-term morbidity in survivors of traumatic brain injury. The most common alterations appear to be somatotropin and gonadotropin deficiency, followed by corticotropin and thyrotropin deficiency. Clinical signs of hypopituitarism are, however, often subtle and may be masked by sequalae of traumatic brain injury, causing that the partial or complete insufficiency of anterior pituitary secretion may be underrecognized. Patients suffering from this condition may benefit from appropriate hormone replacement therapy. The authors report a case of a young male patient who developed hypogonadism and hyperprolactinemia several months after an accident. This case illustrates the need for clinical awareness of pituitary dysfunction in patients after traumatic brain injury.