Citation

Tanriverdi F, Unluhizarci K, Kocyigit I, Tuna IS, Karaca Z, Durak AC, Selcuklu A, Casanueva FF, Kelestimur F. Ann. Intern Med. 2008; 148(11): 827-831.

Affiliation

Erciyes University Medical School, Kayseri, Turkey, and Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. fatihtan@erciyes.edu.tr

Comment In:

Ann Intern Med 2009;.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, American College of Physicians)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18519929

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pituitary consequences of chronic head trauma in boxing have not been investigated in detail. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pituitary function in retired or active amateur boxers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational study. SETTING: Turkey. PARTICIPANTS: 61 actively competing (n = 44) or retired (n = 17) male boxers of the Turkish National Boxing Team. MEASUREMENTS: Body composition variables, pituitary volume (in 38 of 61 boxers), and pituitary function. RESULTS: 9 of 61 boxers (15%) had growth hormone (GH) deficiency and 5 of 61 boxers (8%) had adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency. All boxers with GH deficiency except 1 were retired from boxing. Of 17 retired boxers, 8 (47%) had GH deficiency. Retired boxers with GH deficiency had significantly lower pituitary volume than retired boxers with normal GH. LIMITATION: Pituitary volume was measured in only 38 of 61 boxers, and the study had no comparison group. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that retired boxers have a high rate of pituitary dysfunction. Therefore, investigation of pituitary function in boxers, particularly retired ones, is recommended.

Language: en