AUTHOR=Lillicrap Thomas , Garcia-Esperon Carlos , Walker Frederick Rohan , Ong Lin Kooi , Nilsson Michael , Spratt Neil , Levi Christopher R. , Parsons Mark , Isgaard Jörgen , Bivard Andrew 

TITLE=Growth Hormone Deficiency Is Frequent After Recent Stroke

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2018.00713

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2018.00713

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold> The incidence of pituitary dysfunction after severe ischemic stroke is unknown, however given the increasing attention to pituitary dysfunction after neurological injuries such as traumatic brain injury, this may represent a novel area of research in stroke.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We perform an arginine and human growth hormone releasing hormone challenge on ischemic stroke patients within a week of symptom onset.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Over the study period, 13 patients were successfully tested within a week of stroke (baseline NIHSS 10, range 7–16). Overall, 9(69%) patients had a poor response, with 7(54%) of these patients meeting the criteria for had human growth hormone deficiency. Other measures of pituitary function were within normal ranges.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> After major ischemic stroke, low GH levels are common and may play a role in stroke recovery.</p>