Diagnostic Value of Serum Biomarkers in Endocrine Dysfunction, Neuronal Injury, and Inflammation Following Traumatic...

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) constitutes one of the primary causes of mortality globally. While many survivors fully recover, others experience several chronic complications that, if left untreated, negatively affect the patient's quality of life. Among these, post-traumatic hypopituitarism (PTHP) represents a common yet poorly recognized condition. The subtle, non-specific nature of pituitary dysfunction symptomatology, its overlap with similar disorders subsequent to TBI, and the lack of sensitive diagnostic tools are the main factors resulting in underdiagnosis of PTHP. The aim of this review is to summarize the existing knowledge, potential clinical utility, and limitations of serum biomarkers that may serve as reliable, minimally invasive tools for assessing pituitary function in the post-TBI period or even predicting late-onset deficiencies. These biomarkers, originating from neuronal damage or the inflammatory response following pituitary injury, can be co-evaluated with basal levels of pituitary and target organs hormones to accurately establish the diagnosis of the condition. Additionally, this review also provides an overview of emerging biomarkers that are currently under investigation and may be incorporated into clinical practice in the future.