Abstract Background Neuroendocrine changes have been reported after ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and brain trauma. As there are no corresponding data in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) we analyzed various neuroendocrine parameters to investigate possible alterations in hormone profiles of patients with ICH.
Methods Twenty patients with ICH were prospectively enrolled in the study. Patients were a priori parted into two groups: Ten non-ventilated patients treated on the stroke-unit (hemorrhage volumes <20 ml, “small ICH”), and 10 ventilated patients treated on the neurocritical care unit (hematoma volumes >20 ml with possible additional ventricular involvement (“large ICH”). Neuroendocrine parameters were compared between both groups referring to reference values. The following parameters were obtained over a period of 9 days in 20 patients with spontaneous supratentorial ICH: thyrotropin, free thiiodothyronine and thyroxine, human growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor 1, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cortisol.
Results Small ICH patients were in a median 71 (54–88) years old and had a mean ICH volume of 9.5 ± 6.5 ml, whereas large ICH patients were 65 (47–80) years old and showed a mean volume of 56 ± 30.2 ml. None of the patients revealed pathological alterations for thyrotropin, free thiiodothyronine, thyroxine, human growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor 1, and testosterone. There was only a mild decrease of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol on day 3 in large ICH patients. Small ICH patients showed pathologically elevated levels of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormone throughout the observation period. Large ICH patients showed a marked increase of prolactin that developed during the course.
Conclusions Overall, neuroendocrine changes in ICH patients are not as profound as reported for ischemic stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage. The clinical significance of increased LH and FSH levels in small ICH is unclear, whereas elevation of prolactin in large ICH was anticipated. Future randomized controlled trials should also focus on neuroendocrine parameters to clarify the impact of possible hormonal alterations on functional outcome.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s12028-011-9622-8
- Authors
- Hagen B. Huttner, Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Ines-Christine Kiphuth, Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Linda Teuber, Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Hannes Lücking, Department of Neuroradiology, University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Stephan P. Kloska, Department of Neuroradiology, University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Dimitre Staykov, Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Joji B. Kuramatsu, Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Christoph Mauer, Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Lorenz Breuer, Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Arnd Doerfler, Department of Neuroradiology, University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Martin Köhrmann, Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Journal Neurocritical Care
- Online ISSN 1556-0961
- Print ISSN 1541-6933
