[Effectiveness of recombinant human growth hormone treatment for severe burn injury]

Abstract

In order to investigate the effectiveness and safety of recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) treatment for severe burn injury, we designed a randomized prospective study. The patients in rhGH group were given rhGH in a dose of 0.5 IU/(kg.d) subcutaneously between days 3-17 post-burn. Indices about protein metabolism, wound healing, hepatic and renal function and blood were measured regularly. Patients were monitored until their wound healed sufficiently so that they could be discharged for rehabilitation. The results showed: all patients survived; the rhGH group had less weight loss, increased level of serum albumin and shorter healing time of deep partial-thickness burn and donor site. The hospital stay time decreased from the control value of 45 +/- 17 days to 37 +/- 12 days for rhGH treated patients, i.e. a significant improvement. Resistant hyperglycemia was present in 2 patients in the rhGH group and disappeared after transient insulin administration. This study demonstrates that rhGH treatment for severe burn injury has obvious beneficial effects with slight side-effects.