ABSTRACT
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cognitive and behavioural disorders observed in TBI patients are due to hormonal deficits or to the brain injury itself. RESEARCH DESIGN: Transversal, between-group design. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Studied 22 severe TBI patients (GCS < 8): 11 had isolated GH deficiency and 11 did not. Prepared detailed clinical reports on patients and performed physical examinations, standard biochemical and full blood count analysis. Patients underwent neuropsychological assessment and hormonal evaluation 6 months after TBI diagnosis. RESULTS: TBI patients with GH deficiency show greater deficits in attention, executive functioning, memory and emotion than those without GH deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Results show GH-related cognitive impairment in patients who develop GH deficiency after TBI and suggest that treatment of GH deficiency would improve cognition. The clinical importance of these findings should be established to better understand the nature, magnitude and meaning of GH-related cognitive impairment in patients who develop GH deficiency after TBI.
