Pituitary function impairment after moderate traumatic brain injury

To determine the prevalence of pituitary hormone deficiencies after moderate traumatic brain injury [TBI]. We conducted a prospective cohort and included 75 patients with moderate TBI with GCS between 9 and 13 who referred to emergency department of Shariati Hospital, Tehran/Iran, during 2004-2007. Pituitary hormones were assessed 3 and 6 months after injury. In 3rd month post-injury, 39 cases had not any pituitary dysfunction; however, deficiencies in one, two and three of the pituitary hormones were found in 26, 8 and 2 patients, respectively. Twenty one patients showed a deficiency in one of the pituitary hormones and only one case with deficiency of two after 6 months. The most prevalent changes occur in IGF-1 and LH/FSH after moderate TBI. However, the whole deficiencies decrease over the time

Cerebral tuberculoma in pregnancy: overview of the literature and report of a case

Tubercle bacilli infect about one third of the world's population and over the past decade resurgence of tuberculosis has been a major health threat mainly due to increasing frequencies of immunosuppressive states and drug-resistant organisms. Although tuberculosis is essentially a lung disease, intracranial elements become involved in 5-10% of cases either as meningitis or tumour-like masses [tuberculoma]. Tuberculoma is common in endemic areas but its occurrence during pregnancy is occasional and of particular interest is its intriguing clinical picture mimicking toxemia of pregnancy and brain tumor. In addition, the effects of pregnancy on tuberculosis or vice versa have been controversial. We present here a review of the recent literature and discuss a case coming to medical attention with manifestations of intracranial hypertension during 2 consecutive pregnancies; 4 years apart. On operation a dura-attached mass was detected that proved to be a tuberculoma. After 18 months of close observation and under drug therapy she obviously improved with no ensuing complication. Immunodeficiency state associated with pregnancy is likely to play a role in activation of infection. Tuberculoma should be considered in differential diagnosis of eclampsia and brain mass particularly in women coming from endemic areas for this infection even in the absence of pulmonary involvement