Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between hormone levels and
functional status during acute TBI rehabilitation. RESEARCH DESIGN: Retrospective
cohort study of 43 men with moderate-to-severe TBI admitted to an acute
rehabilitation unit during a 1 year period. PROCEDURES : Labs were
drawn on admission, including total and free testosterone (T), prolactin,
adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), cortisol, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH),
free thyroxine (fT4) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). Functional
Independence Measure (FIM) scores were obtained at admission and discharge. RESULTS: Associations between admission hormone levels and the main
outcomes, admission and discharge FIM scores, were assessed using linear
regression. Lower total and free T-levels at admission were associated with lower
total FIM scores at admission (p < 0.038) and discharge (p < 0.046). Higher
cortisol levels at admission were significantly associated with lower admission
(p = 0.012) and discharge (p = 0.036) scores on the cognitive-FIM. Prolactin,
TSH, fT4 and IGF-1 were not correlated with functional status. CONCLUSIONS: In
men, lower total and free T-levels at admission to acute rehabilitation correlate
with lower admission and discharge FIM scores. These data support the need for
studies to investigate the impact of physiological testosterone therapy on
outcomes during and post-rehabilitation.

Langue : ANGLAIS