Background: Several studies have reported a high prevalence of hypopituitarism after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Risk stratification is a prerequisite for cost-effective hormonal screening of these patients. However, it is still unclear which risk factors predispose patients to develop anterior hypopituitarism after TBI.
Objective: To assess clinical and radiological risk factors for post-traumatic hypopituitarism.
Patients and methods: Seventy-eight consecutive patients (52 men, 26 women; mean age 36.0 years, range 18-65 years) with mild, moderate or severe TBI were studied. Endocrine and clinical parameters were assessed 3 and 12 months after TBI.
Results: We found diffuse axonal injury, basal skull fracture and older age to be major risk factors of post-traumatic hypopituitarism.
Conclusions: We have defined specific risk factors for the development of post-traumatic hypopituitarism that are consistent with pathophysiological considerations. These findings might help to identify at-risk patients.