A Repeated Measures Pilot Comparison of Trajectories of Fluctuating Endogenous Hormones in Young Women with Traumatic Brain Injury, Healthy Controls

OBJECTIVE: To compare baseline and 72-hour hormone levels in women with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and controls. SETTING: Hospital emergency department. PARTICIPANTS: 21 women ages 18-35 with TBI and 21 controls. DESIGN: Repeated measures. MAIN MEASURES: Serum samples at baseline and 72 hours; immunoassays for estradiol (E2), progesterone (PRO), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and cortisol (CORT); and health history. RESULTS: Women with TBI had lower E2 (p = 0.042) and higher CORT (p = 0.028) levels over time. Lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC) and OCs were associated with lower FSH (GCS p = 0.021; OCs p = 0.016) and higher CORT (GCS p = 0.001; OCs p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Acute TBI may suppress E2 and increase CORT in young women. OCs appeared to independently affect CORT and FSH responses. Future work is needed with a larger sample to characterize TBI effects on women's endogenous hormone response to injury and OC use's effects on post-TBI stress response and gonadal function, as well as secondary injury.