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Growth hormone, burns and tissue healing
S O Lal1, S E Wolf, D N Herndon
1Department of Surgery, Shriners Burns Hospital and University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA.
Summary
Growth hormone (GH) accelerates burn wound healing and improves gut integrity in critically ill patients. Studies show reduced healing times and no increased mortality with GH treatment, supporting its therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic response to injury
- Hormonal regulation of healing
Background:
- Severe illness and trauma induce hypermetabolism, increasing protein breakdown and energy demands.
- This hypercatabolic state can elevate morbidity and mortality, particularly in burn patients.
- Growth hormone (GH) is an anabolic agent with potential to mitigate these adverse effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of Growth Hormone (GH) on burn wound repair.
- To examine the impact of GH on gut healing in the context of severe injury.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on GH administration in burn patients.
- Analysis of animal studies investigating GH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in mucosal injury.
Main Results:
- GH administration (0.6 IU/kg/day) significantly reduced wound healing times in burn patients.
- Studies at this dosage showed no increase in mortality and demonstrated benefits in critically burned children.
- Animal models suggest GH-stimulated IGF-I is crucial for intestinal epithelial repair.
Conclusions:
- GH demonstrates efficacy and safety in promoting burn wound healing and gut integrity.
- Further investigation into GH and IGF-I is warranted for their therapeutic potential in severe trauma.
- GH offers a promising anabolic strategy to counteract hypermetabolism and improve outcomes in burn patients.