An Approach to Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Hypopituitarism: Overcoming the Pediatric Challenges

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related hypopituitarism is a rare polymorphic complication of brain injury, with very little data, particularly concerning children and teenagers. This is a comprehensive review of the literature regarding this pathology, starting from a new pediatric case. The research was conducted on PubMed and included publications from the last 22 years. We identified nine original studies on the pediatric population (two case reports and seven studies; only four of these seven were prospective studies). TBI-related hypopituitarism is associated with isolated hormonal deficits ranging from 22.5% to 86% and multiple hormonal deficiencies from 5.9% to 50% in the studied pediatric population. Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is most often found, including the form with late occurrence after TBI; it was described as persistent in half of the studies. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) deficiency is identified as a distant complication following TBI; in all three studies, we identified this complication was found to be permanent. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency did not relate to a certain type of brain trauma, and it was transient in reported cases. Hyperprolactinemia was the most frequent hormonal finding, also occurring late after injury. Central diabetes insipidus was encountered early post-TBI, typically with a transient pattern and did not relate to a particular type of injury. TBI-related hypopituitarism, although rare in children, should be taken into consideration even after a long time since the trauma. A multidisciplinary approach is needed if the patient is to safely overcome any acute condition.

Keywords

• hypopituitarism
• traumatic brain injury
• growth hormone deficiency
• delayed puberty
• ACTH
• height