Assessment of the Sex Hormone Profile and Its Predictive Role in Consciousness Recovery Following Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

INTRODUCTION

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are conditions affecting brain function caused by blunt or penetrating forces to the head. Symptoms may include confusion, impaired consciousness, coma, seizures, and focal or sensory neurological motor injuries.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated sex hormone profiles and their predictive role in returning consciousness after severe traumatic brain injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We included 120 patients with TBIs and collected comprehensive information about each patient, including the cause of the trauma, age, gender, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and neuroradiological imaging data. The ISS was used to assess the severity of the trauma. At the same time, the lowest GCS score was recorded either before sedation and intubation in the emergency room or by emergency medical services personnel. For female participants, samples were collected during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (days 18 to 23).

RESULTS

The mean age of male patients was 33.40 years, ranging from 23 to 45 years, while female patients had an average age of 34.25 years, ranging from 25 to 48 years. The primary cause of injury for both genders was motor vehicle accidents. In male patients, testosterone levels were significantly higher in those classified as responsive (RC) compared to those non-responsive (NRC), with levels of 2.56 ± 0.47 ng/mL versus 0.81 ± 0.41 ng/mL ( = 0.003). A cut-off point of 1.885 ng/mL for testosterone levels in males was established, achieving a sensitivity and specificity of 86.7% and 86.7%, respectively. In female patients, progesterone levels were elevated in those who regained consciousness, measuring 1.80 ± 0.31 ng/mL compared to 0.62 ± 0.31 ng/mL ( = 0.012). A cut-off point of 1.335 ng/mL for progesterone levels in females was determined, with a sensitivity and specificity of 93.3% and 86.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We can conclude that sex hormone levels in the acute phase of TBIs can vary between males and females. Notably, serum testosterone levels in males and progesterone levels in females with TBIs are significant prognostic factors for assessing the likelihood of regaining consciousness after such injuries. These findings underscore the importance of considering sex hormone profiles in TBI recovery prognosis.