Pituitary dysfunction due to sports injuries.

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) during sports activities may lead to dysfunction of the pituitary gland. Even mild TBIs have been shown to have the potential to induce pituitary dysfunction. The clinical picture of pituitary dysfunction subsequent to TBIs may mimic the post-TBI period itself. Pituitary hormone deficiencies may improve or new ones may be observed over time. For this reason, hypopituitarism should be considered both during the acute phase and in the recovery period. The most prevalent pituitary hormone deficiency that follows a sports injury is growth hormone (GH) deficiency. Despite the established knowledge regarding the deleterious consequences of GH deficiency in the athletes, the efficacy of replacement therapy remains controversial. Concurrently, given the potential for GH to be utilised for doping purposes, a consensus on the monitoring of these patients remains elusive. There is a necessity for further systematic and large-scale studies on the epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, screening algorithms, and prevention strategies related to sports-related pituitary dysfunction.