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Cited by 23Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular DisturbancesPituitary Gland Disorders and TreatmentsTraumatic Brain Injury Research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 111 of the 111 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 114 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Acute neuroendocrine changes after traumatic brain injury

Open access
Magyar-Sumegi, Zsofia Dina, Stankovics, Levente, Lendvai-Emmert, Dominika, Czigler, Andras, Hegedus, Emoke, Csendes, Mark, Toth, Luca, Ungvari, Zoltan, Buki, Andras, Toth, Peter·2024·Brain and Spine

Abstract

Introduction: Post-traumatic hypopituitarism (PTHP) is a significant, but often neglected consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Research question: We aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features and diagnostic approaches of PTHP. Materials and methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched. 45 articles of human studies evaluating acute endocrine changes following mild, moderate and severe TBI were selected. Results: Severity of TBI seems to be the most important risk factor of PTHP. Adrenal insufficiency (AI) was present in 10% of TBI patients (prevalence can be as high as 50% after severe TBI), and hypocortisolemia is a predictor of mortality and long-term hypopituitarism. Suppression of the thyroid axis in 2-33% of TBI patients may be an independent predictor of adverse neurological outcome, as well. 9-36% of patients with severe TBI exhibit decreased function of the somatotrophic axis with a divergent effect on the central nervous system. Arginine-Vasopressin (AVP) deficiency is present in 15-51% of patients, associated with increased mortality and unfavorable outcome. Due to shear and injury of the stalk hyperprolactinemia is relatively common (2-50%), but it bears little clinical significance. Sex hormone levels remain within normal values. Discussion and conclusion: PTHP occurs frequently after TBI, affecting various axis and determining patients' outcome. However, evidence is scarce regarding exact epidemiology, diagnosis, and effective clinical application of hormone substitution. Future studies are needed to identify patients at-risk, determine the optimal timing for endocrine testing, and refine diagnostic and treatment approaches to improve outcome.

Overview

CoChat Summary

TL;DR

This systematic review summarizes acute neuroendocrine changes after traumatic brain injury (TBI), focusing on post-traumatic hypopituitarism (PTHP) within 3 months. It finds frequent axis-specific dysfunction, with TBI severity as the most important risk factor, but evidence remains scarce for exact epidemiology, diagnosis, and effective hormone substitution.

Key findings

  • Severity of TBI is the most important risk factor for PTHP. Acute adrenal insufficiency was present in 10% of TBI patients, with prevalence up to 50% after severe TBI; hypocortisolemia is a predictor of mortality and long-term hypopituitarism.
  • Thyroid axis suppression occurred in 2–33% of TBI patients and may be an independent predictor of adverse neurological outcome; 9–36% of patients with severe TBI showed decreased somatotrophic axis function.
  • Arginine-vasopressin deficiency was present in 15–51% of patients and was associated with increased mortality and unfavorable outcome; hyperprolactinemia was relatively common (2–50%) but bore little clinical significance.
  • The abstract states sex hormone levels remain within normal values, but the body text reports acute gonadotrophin suppression and low testosterone in several studies.

Methods

  • Systematic review performed according to PRISMA-P. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched on 12 September 2023 using a TBI-and-endocrine/pituitary search term.
  • Inclusion criteria: all TBI types; endocrine disorders assessed in the acute phase (within 3 months); peer-reviewed English full texts. Exclusions: no TBI diagnosis, case presentations, animal data, or publication before 2010. Overall, 45 full texts were included.
  • Two independent authors screened titles, abstracts, and full texts; a third author resolved disagreements. References of included texts were reviewed. Data were extracted, critically reviewed, and categorized by endocrine parameters; no quantitative pooling/meta-analysis is described.

Limitations

  • Paper states: evidence is scarce regarding exact epidemiology, diagnosis, and effective clinical application of hormone substitution; future studies are needed to identify patients at risk, determine optimal timing of endocrine testing, and refine diagnostic and treatment approaches.
  • Paper states: heterogeneity in TBI severity, testing protocols, and diagnostic thresholds limits prevalence estimates; ambiguous nomenclature for adrenal insufficiency, single daily sampling, pulsatile GH secretion, ICU drugs, nutritional/hormonal status, and BMI can affect interpretation.
  • Evident from the text: the review synthesizes heterogeneous observational studies with inconsistent findings across axes (e.g., prolactin, GH/IGF-1, thyroid, cortisol outcomes), and it does not report a formal risk-of-bias or study-quality assessment.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.bas.2024.102830

Cites

111 of 111 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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Figures

Fig. 1 Flow chart of the systematic search strategy.
Fig. 1 Flow chart of the systematic search strategy.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 Proposed mechanisms of post-traumatic hypopituitarism (PTHP) and their relationships. Mechanical injuries cause direct pituitary damage, as well as mass lesions that lead to increased ICP and hypoxic-ischemic injuries, exacerbated by the long course of portal vessels. Neuroinflammation damages tanycytes that regulate hypothalamic hormone release at the median eminence. Focal and global destruction of the blood-brain barrier exposes antigens that could trigger autoimmune reactions against the pituitary gland. BBB: blood-brain barrier.
Fig. 2 Proposed mechanisms of post-traumatic hypopituitarism (PTHP) and their relationships. Mechanical injuries cause direct pituitary damage, as well as mass lesions that lead to increased ICP and hypoxic-ischemic injuries, exacerbated by the long course of portal vessels. Neuroinflammation damages tanycytes that regulate hypothalamic hormone release at the median eminence. Focal and global destruction of the blood-brain barrier exposes antigens that could trigger autoimmune reactions against the pituitary gland. BBB: blood-brain barrier.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Fig. 3 Summary of endocrine changes in the acute phase of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Effects of TBI lead to various alterations in each axis of the hypothalamo-pituitary system (HPA). Derangements of the HPA axis can present as secondary hypocortisolemia as well as compensatorily elevated glucocorticoid levels. Cortisol peaked within 24 h, while adrenal insufficiency ensued during the first 10 post-injury days. Hypothyroidism is also a common feature and conveyed poor prognosis, although no clear temporal pattern was observed. If involved, prolactin production displays an increase due to disinhibition. This phenomenon can manifest within a few days after the injury and may persist up to several months in severe cases. Examination of the somatotroph axis often shows suppression within the first few days, followed by peripheral GH resistance, demonstrated by elevated GH and decreased IGF-1 levels at 3 months follow-up. As part of the stress response, gonadotrophins are usually suppressed during the first 10 post-injury days and tend to slowly normalize afterwards. Insufficient or overly active ADH production and release leads to sodium and water homeostasis imbalances, seen as AVP-D or SIADH, respectively. These derangements are usually transient and confined to the in-hospital period in the majority of cases. TBI: traumatic brain injury, CRH: corticotropin-releasing hormone, ACTH: adrenocorticotropic hormone, TRH: thyrotropin-releasing hormone, TSH: thyroid stimulating hormone, fT3,4: free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, DA: dopamine, PRL: prolactin, GHRH: growth hormone-releasing hormone, SST: somatostatin, GH: growth hormone, IGF-1: insulin-like growth factor 1, GnRH: gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone, FSH: follicle-stimulating hormone, LH: luteinizing hormone, E2: estradiol, P: progesterone, T: testosterone, ADH: antidiuretic hormone.
Fig. 3 Summary of endocrine changes in the acute phase of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Effects of TBI lead to various alterations in each axis of the hypothalamo-pituitary system (HPA). Derangements of the HPA axis can present as secondary hypocortisolemia as well as compensatorily elevated glucocorticoid levels. Cortisol peaked within 24 h, while adrenal insufficiency ensued during the first 10 post-injury days. Hypothyroidism is also a common feature and conveyed poor prognosis, although no clear temporal pattern was observed. If involved, prolactin production displays an increase due to disinhibition. This phenomenon can manifest within a few days after the injury and may persist up to several months in severe cases. Examination of the somatotroph axis often shows suppression within the first few days, followed by peripheral GH resistance, demonstrated by elevated GH and decreased IGF-1 levels at 3 months follow-up. As part of the stress response, gonadotrophins are usually suppressed during the first 10 post-injury days and tend to slowly normalize afterwards. Insufficient or overly active ADH production and release leads to sodium and water homeostasis imbalances, seen as AVP-D or SIADH, respectively. These derangements are usually transient and confined to the in-hospital period in the majority of cases. TBI: traumatic brain injury, CRH: corticotropin-releasing hormone, ACTH: adrenocorticotropic hormone, TRH: thyrotropin-releasing hormone, TSH: thyroid stimulating hormone, fT3,4: free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, DA: dopamine, PRL: prolactin, GHRH: growth hormone-releasing hormone, SST: somatostatin, GH: growth hormone, IGF-1: insulin-like growth factor 1, GnRH: gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone, FSH: follicle-stimulating hormone, LH: luteinizing hormone, E2: estradiol, P: progesterone, T: testosterone, ADH: antidiuretic hormone.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central

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Citations

Cites

Show all 111 references

Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. Ahmed, 2021, Pituitary dysfunction following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at the desk of a General Practitioner, World Family Medicine, 19, 92
  2. Dlela, 2020, Acute glucocorticoid defciency following traumatic brain injury, Ann. Intensive Care, 10
  3. Dutta, 2021, Clinical presentations, hormonal evaluation and imaging abnormalities in patients with multiple pituitary hormone deficiency: a single-centre experience from rural West Bengal, J. Indian Med. Assoc., 119, 13
  4. Hacioglu, 2019, Neuroendocrine consequences of traumatic brain injury and strategies for its management, Erciyes Medical Journal, 41, 357
  5. Komoltsev, 2022, Acute glucocorticoid elevation after traumatic brain injury predicts reduces survival rate: a translational study, Eur. J. Neurol., 29, 199

Cited by

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Metadata

Authors
Magyar-Sumegi, Z. D., Stankovics, L., Lendvai-Emmert, D., Czigler, A., Hegedus, E., Csendes, M., Toth, L., Ungvari, Z., Buki, A., & Toth, P.
Affiliations
  • University of Pecs (HU)
  • Semmelweis University (HU)
Venue
Brain and Spine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2024
Volume
4
Pages
102830
ISSN
2772-5294 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4396703655
Cited by
23
References
111
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 2
FWCI
1.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Brain and Spine (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal (OTKA K-134555)
  • Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (FK-146334)
  • Nemzeti Kutatási, Fejlesztési és Innovaciós Alap (135784, RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00003)
  • National Research Development and Innovation Office (TKP2021-NKTA-47, RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00011, 101004093/ EUniWell/EAC-A02-2019 / EAC-A02-2019-1)
  • Innovációs és Technológiai Minisztérium
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Pituitary Gland Disorders and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
Keywords
post-traumatic hypopituitarism, traumatic brain injury, adrenal insufficiency, somatotropic axis, central diabetes insipidus, hyperprolactinemia, sex hormones, TBI severity, mortality

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Acute neuroendocrine changes after traumatic brain injury. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1016/j.bas.2024.102830
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Magyar-Sumegi, Z. D., Stankovics, L., Lendvai-Emmert, D., Czigler, A., Hegedus, E., Csendes, M., Toth, L., Ungvari, Z., Buki, A., & Toth, P. (2024). Acute neuroendocrine changes after traumatic brain injury. Brain and Spine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bas.2024.102830

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