Dynamic changes and clinical significance of relative pituitary hormones in children after craniocerebral injury

Abstract

Objective To explore the dynamic changes and clinical significance of relative pituitary hormones in children after craniocerebral injury. Methods The quantitative analysis and dynamic observation were performed in 125 children after craniocerebral injury and 20 voluntary healthy children of relative pituitary hormones including serum prolactin(PRL), cortisol(PTC), three free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), growth hormone (GH) by applying electrochemical luminescence method.The hormone variational characteristics were analyzed according to posttraumatic time, Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) scores on admission and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores on discharge, and the relationship between hormone variational characteristics of 58 cases was followed up over 2 years and the activities of daily living (ADL) were also investigated. Results The serum PRL was significantly increased on the first, third and fifth day compared with the healthy control group(P=0.000 0, 0.000 0, 0.006 7), respectively.There was significant difference between mild, moderate and severe groups within 30 days after suffering from craniocerebral injury (P<0.05). PTC was heavily increased within 3 days, and significant difference existed among mild and moderate groups mild and severe groups(all P<0.05); TSH, FT3, FT4 decreased slightly after injury and gradually rose in later; GH change wasn't significant; and the larger variation of relative pituitary hormones was responsible for lower GCS scores; FT3, FT4, TSH, and GH decreased in different degrees, which were found in parts of children with craniocerebral injury, and the significant difference of serum PRL existed between GOS scores 4-5 and GOS scores 1-3 groups(P=0.000 1). Conclusions The changes of relative pituitary hormones were associated with the posttraumatic time and the severity of craniocerebral injury.The PRL in serum can aid in prediction of outcome for the children with craniocerebral injury. Key words: Craniocerebral injury; Relative pituitary hormones; Prognosis; Child