Should the Full Array of Steroid Hormones be Measured in Trauma Research? A Pilot Study

Bjectives: This pilot study was designed to determine whether future trauma research should gather information on the full array of steroid hormones. Methods: Blood levels of cortisol, DHEA, testosterone, pregnenolone, estradiol and sex hormone binding globulin were obtained in a sample of 67 hospital trauma program inpatients. Results: High and low blood levels of all hormones except pregnenolone were observed, with the most frequent being cortisol: 13 participants had high resting morning cortisol, and 6 had low levels. Conclusions: Although the uncontrolled and cross-sectional nature of the data do not allow conclusions about causality, it appears that, in future studies of trauma physiology, blood levels should be obtained for the full array of steroid hormones, rather than for just cortisol and DHEA; these two steroid have received the most attention in prior trauma research.