Objective: To explore the influence of recombinant human growth hormones (rhGH) postburn systemic metabolism.
Methods: Twenty-four burn patients were randomly and equally divided into treatment and control groups. Same amount of rhGH (9 U/d) or isotonic saline was injected subcutaneously to respective patients during 3 approximately 17 postburn days (PBDs). Blood samples were harvested at 3, 10 and 17 PBDs for the determination of serum growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), serum proteins, plasma insulin, plasma glucagons and blood glucose, which were then compared and analyzed between two the groups.
Results: The serum levels of GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, serum prealbumin and transferrin in rhGH treatment group were evidently higher than those in control groups at 10 and 17 PBDs (P < 0.05 approximately 0.01). But there was no obvious difference in serum albumin, plasma insulin, glucagon and blood glucose (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Small dose of rhGH could promote systemic protein synthesis with no side effects on blood glucose levels.