Hormonal Deficiency in the Quality of Life of Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury

Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, when not leading to mortality, is a major cause of morbidity in early adulthood.

Recent studies have demonstrated a previously unappreciated association between Severe Traumatic Brain Injury and endocrine dysfunction.

The current trial aims at evaluating the quality of life 18 months post-trauma and associating this outcome to growth hormone levels.

Inclusion criteria

• All subjects must be between the ages of 18-65
• Documented moderate to severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) at less than 4 months post injury.
• Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) equal to or greater than 12
• Patients volunteer to participate in the study, with a written informed consent signed
• BMI between 17 kg/m2 - 30kg/m2
• Affiliation to a national health insurance program

Exclusion criteria

• Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≥13
• History of TBI ≥4 months
• Anterior hypopituitarism documented
• History of radiotherapy
• Liver dysfunction: total bilirubin <20µmol/l and/or factor V<60%)
• Renal dysfunction: creatinine clearance < 30 ml/mn (Cockcroft & Gault)
• Anyone who is currently taking or who has taken corticotherapy in the last 4 weeks before TBI
• Pregnancy
• Contraindications to MRI:
• Patients who have a heart pacemaker
• Patients who have a metallic foreign body (metal sliver) in their eye, or who have an aneurysm clip in their brain
• Patients with severe claustrophobia