Evaluation of stress hormones in traumatic brain injury patients with gastrointestinal bleeding

ObjectiveTo evaluate the local risk factors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients developing gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding during the early hospitalization in neurosurgery intensive care unit (NICU).MethodFrom September 2005 to February 2006, 41 patients admitted to NICU and 13 healthy volunteers were involved in our study. Blood samples at 24 hours, 2-3 days and 5-7 days were obtained from each patient via arterial line at 8 a.m. to measure the concentrations of serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), total cortisol and gastrin. The collected serum was immersed in an ice bath and tested by the Immulite 1000 systems. Data were analyzed by SPSS 11.5.ResultsWithin 24 hours following TBI, the concentrations of total cortisol, ACTH and gastrin increased proportionally to the severity of injury, especially significant in the experimental group (P<0.05). The concentrations of ACTH and gastrin were higher in the GI bleeding positive group than in the GI bleeding negative group, (F =1.413, P=0.253) for ACTH and (F=9.371, P=0.006) for gastrin. GI bleeding had a positive correlation with gastrin concentration (r=0. 312, P<0.05) and a negative correlation with serum hemoglobin (Hb) (r=-0.420, P<0.01). The clinical incidence of GI bleeding was 24.39% (10/41) in the experimental group. Within 24 hours, GI bleeding had a strong correlation with gastrin concentration (OR=26.643, P<0.05) and hematocrit (Hct) (OR=5.385, P<0.05). High ACTH concentration (>100 pg/ml) increased the frequency of GI bleeding. For patients with severe TBI and treated with routine antacids, the incidence of GI bleeding was 40.91% (9/22) and the mortality rate was 20% (2/10).ConclusionsLow Glasgow coma scale scores, low Hb, high concentrations of gastrin and ACTH (>100 pg/ml) are risk factors and can be predictive values for post-traumatic GI bleeding. Severe TBI patients have high risks of GI bleeding with high mortality.