title: Growth factors in clinical practice.
abstract: Growth factors enhance protein synthesis and thus reduce the catabolic response to injury. As a result of bioengineering and new manufacturing techniques several anabolic agents have become available for clinical use and have been evaluated in surgical patients with catabolic illness. Data support the anabolic effects of growth home in such patients, but its expense and possible deleterious effects during the acute phase of illness limit its use to selected patient groups. Insulin-like growth factor-1 has also been studied, but specific indications for its use have not been identified in catabolic patients. Testosterone and derivatives of this hormone exert anabolic effects, but few randomized trials include catabolic surgical patients, and higher doses of some derivative compounds are associated with hepatic dysfunction. Nonetheless, as we move into the future, studies will determine the specific doses for administration of these and other anabolic factors in specific patient groups. Anabolic therapy will shorten the length of therapy and improve the outcome in the future.
authors.affiliation: Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Z M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Wilmore
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D016638:Critical Illness; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D006133:Growth Substances; D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I