TY - JOUR PY - 2020// TI - Testosterone replacement in hypogonadal men during inpatient rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury: results from a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical pilot study JO - NeuroRehabilitation A1 - Ripley, David L. A1 - Gerber, Don A1 - Pretz, Christopher A1 - Weintraub, Alan H. A1 - Wierman, Margaret E. SP - ePub EP - ePub VL - ePub IS - ePub N2 - BACKGROUND: Endocrinopathy, including hypogonadism, is common following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Prior evidence suggests hypogonadism is associated with poorer function.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of testosterone (T) therapy in hypogonadal men following TBI in acute rehabilitation.

DESIGN: Randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation brain injury unit. PARTICIPANTS: Men ages 18 -65, post moderate to severe TBI receiving inpatient rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: Transdermal T gel or placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Revised FIM™ score, strength, adverse events.

RESULTS: Of 498 screened, 70 participants were enrolled, and 22 meeting all criteria were randomized into placebo (n = 10) or physiologic T therapy (n = 12). There was no significant difference between groups in rate of improvement on the FIM™ (intercepts t = -0.31, p = 0.7593, slopes t = 0.61, p = 0.5472). The Treatment group demonstrated the greatest absolute improvement in FIM™ scores and grip strength compared to Placebo or Normal T groups. There was no difference in adverse events between groups. Percentage of time with agitation or aggression was highest in the Placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS: Although there were no significant differences in rates of recovery, treatment group subjects showed greater absolute functional and strength improvement compared to the Placebo or Normal T groups. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01201863.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1053-8135 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/NRE-192992 ID - ref1 ER -