Surg Neurol
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Patients in the acute stage after a severe head injury often exhibit systemic stress responses. The aim of the present study is to assess in such patients the clinical significance of the change of catecholamines (CA) and of blood glucose. ⋯ These findings suggest that in the acute stage of severe head injury hyperglycemia and elevation of serum levels of CA are common components of the stress response, significant indicators of severity, and significant predictors of outcome.