OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the randomness of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol secretion using approximate entropy in patients who have sustained a head injury. II. Determine the correlation between randomness of ACTH and cortisol secretion and stages of sleep in these patients.
PROTOCOL OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to type of injury (closed head injury due to trauma vs vascular accidents). Patients are admitted two times for overnight assessment. Admission 1: Patients receive cosyntropin IV. Blood is drawn at 30 and 60 minutes after IV infusion. Patients receive oral metyrapone before sleep. A sham sleep study is conducted through the night and patients' blood is drawn in the morning. Admission 2: At least 2 weeks after admission 1, patients return for an overnight admission. Starting in the evening, blood is drawn every 15 minutes for 12 hours. A sleep study is conducted through the night.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
32
Transitional Learning Community
Galveston, Texas, United States
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, Texas, United States
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