Endocrine Abstracts

Purpose: Neuroendocrine dysfunction represents a frequent consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) but has not been studied longitudinally as yet. Here we attempt to identify predictors of late endocrine insufficiency following TBI.Methods: 71 consecutive patients (age 18 – 87 yrs) with TBI assessed by an intial CT and the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) were prospectively studied as to their pituitary function on day 0, 3 and 7 and dynamically 24–...

Introduction: The incidence of water and electrolyte disturbances following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is considerable and has been attributed to a dysregulation of the hypothalamic peptide arginine-vasopressin (AVP). Copeptin, the C-terminal part of the AVP prohormone, is stoichiometrically secreted together with mature AVP. Due to his long ex vivo stability, the AVP precursor, copeptin, can be used as a surrogate of AVP readily to be measured in serum or plasma. In ...