Isolated Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Deficiency Following Chronic Subdural Hematoma in an Elderly Man: Is There a Connection?

• Published in: Internal Medicine Vol. 56; no. 15; pp. 1981 - 1985
• Main Authors: Suzuki, Satoshi, Suzuki, Keiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine 01.01.2017; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Adrenal glands; Adrenocorticotropic hormone; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - deficiency; Aged; Blood; Brain; Case Report; chronic subdural hematoma; Dura mater; Edema; Endocrine System Diseases - complications; Genetic Diseases, Inborn - complications; Geriatrics; Head injuries; Hematoma; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic - complications; Humans; Hypoglycemia - complications; hypopituitarism; Internal medicine; isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency; Male; Meninges; Pain; Trauma; Traumatic brain injury; isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency; traumatic brain injury; chronic subdural hematoma; hypopituitarism
• ISSN: 0918-2918; 1349-7235; 1349-7235
• DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.56.6792

The delayed diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency is relatively common because its symptoms are non-specific. One of the causes of adrenal insufficiency is isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency (IAD), which is sometimes caused by traumatic brain injury. Indeed, severe head trauma is considered to contribute to the incidence of this disease. However, the relationship between milder head trauma—such as chronic subdural hematoma — and the occurrence of hormonal deficiency is uncertain. We herein report the case of a 79-year-old man with IAD who presented with leg edema and pain in his extremities following a recent history of chronic subdural hematoma.