[Metabolic disorders in severe head injuries].

We have studied some central and peripheral hormones in patients suffering from severe head injury. There exists a significant increase in plasma noradrenaline at the beginning of the apallic syndrome and the values remained raised until the reintegration of the neurological symptomatic set in. Besides there exists a decreased stimulation of growth hormone (HGH) excretion after arginine infusion at different stages of the treatment. Testosterone, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) show lowered values, even though they can be stimulated. The cause of these restrictions in hormonal function may be a direct disturbance of diencephalic-hypophyseal regulation. The influence of the hormones on metabolism and symptomatic therapy of these central dysregulations is also discussed.