Effects of recombinant human growth hormone on donor-site healing in severely burned children.
The beneficial effects of growth hormone on wound healing in severely burned children were studied. Forty patients who were 2 to 18 years old, with 40% or more total body surface area (TBSA) and 20% or more TBSA full-thickness flame or scald burns, were randomized in a double-blind study to receive placebo or 0.1 mg/kg/day recombinant human growth hormone (rHGH) until the first donor site healed or to receive 0.2 mg/kg/day rHGH or placebo from admission throughout hospitalization. Patients receiving 0.2 mg/kg/day rHGH demonstrated significantly higher serum IGF-1 levels at 4.8 +/- 1.7 U/mL compared to placebos at 1.6 +/- 0.4 U/mL (p less than 0.05) and a significant decrease in donor-site healing times compared to placebo (p less than 0.05). Length of hospital stay (LOS/%TBSA) was decreased from 0.80 +/- 0.10 days/%TBSA burned in the placebo group to 0.54 +/- 0.04 days/%TBSA burned in the 0.2 mg/kg/day treatment group (p less than 0.05). This translates, for the average 60% TBSA burned patient, to a decrease in LOS from 46 to 32 days.
Herndon
D N
DN
Shriners Burns Institute, Galveston, TX 77550.
Barrow
R E
RE
Kunkel
K R
KR
Broemeling
L
L
Rutan
R L
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002056:Burns / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013006:Growth Hormone