Influence of traumatic brain injury on serum levels of pituitary, thyroid, adrenal and gonadal hormones

This study explores the clinical significance of dynamic changes in pituitary, thyroid, adrenal and gonadal hormones following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The study cohort included 90 patients with mild, moderate, or severe TBI and 30 healthy volunteers as the control group. Serum levels of total triiodothyronine (TT3), thyroxine (TT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), serum prolactin (PRL), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), cortisol (COR), growth hormone (GH), and testosterone (T) in patients with TBI were quantitatively analyzed at 24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month after TBI. Within 1 month after TBI, serum levels of TT3, TT4, FT3, and FT4 were significantly decreased in all groups, with greater decreases observed with more severe TBI (P < .05). Serum levels of TT3, FT3, and FT4 tended to decrease 1 week after TBI and then gradually increased (P < .05). During the acute stage of TBI (within 2 weeks), TSH levels significantly decreased in all 3 groups in proportional to the severity (P < .05). At 24 hours and 1 week, there were significant differences in serum PRL levels among the mild, moderate, and severe TBI groups (P < .05). Within 24 hours, there were significant differences in the serum levels of FSH and LH between the 3 groups (P < .05). At 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month, serum testosterone levels differed significantly among the 3 groups (P < .05). Dynamic changes in PRL and testosterone serum levels were significant in the moderate and severe TBI groups (P < .05), in addition to FSH levels in the severe TBI group (P < .05). At 1 week, COR levels significantly increased with the severity (P < .05). Assessment of changes in pituitary, thyroid, adrenal and gonadal hormone levels can be helpful in determining the severity of TBI and predicting patient prognosis.