[The study of growth hormone on wound healing rate in adult burns].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of rhGH on wound healing in adult burn patients.


METHODS
42 patients with burn wounds covering over 83% of total body surface area were enrolled in this placebo controlled prospective study. They were comparable in nutrient intake, TBSA, and full thickness burn area. For rhGH group patients rhGH subcutaneously was given in the dose of 0.2 U.kg-1 at 8 a.m. each morning for 14 days. The control group patients were given normal saline as placebo. Protein catabolism, immunocompetence, healing time of burn wounds and donor sites were assayed.


RESULTS
1. The patients in rhGH group had higher serum levels in albumin, transferrin, prealbumin and CD4 T-cells (P < 0.01). 2. The healing time of autologous skin grafting and donor site and the length of hospital stay were significantly shorter in rhGH group patients compared with control group.


CONCLUSIONS
rhGH could enhance the wound healing rate, improve protein anabolism and reduce the length of hospital stay in severe burn patients.
Chen
H
H
Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou 510080.
Lai
W
W
Xie
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D011506:Proteins; D013006:Growth Hormone