Protein-Sparing Effect in Skeletal Muscle of Growth Hormone Treatment in Critically Ill Patients
Year: 2000
Type: article
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of growth hormone (GH) treatment on skeletal muscle protein catabolism in patients with multiple organ failure in the intensive care unit (ICU). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Skeletal muscle depletion affects the incidence of complications and the length of hospital stay. A protein-sparing effect of GH treatment in skeletal muscle of long-term ICU patients was hypothesized. METHODS: Twenty critically ill ICU patients were randomized to treatment with GH (0.3 U/kg/day) or as controls. Percutaneous muscle biopsy samples were taken before and after a 5-day treatment period starting on day 3 to 42 of the patient's ICU stay. Protein content, protein synthesis, water, nucleic acids, and free amino acids in muscle were analyzed. RESULTS: The protein content decreased by 8% +/- 11% in the control patients, with no significant change in the GH group. The fractional synthesis rate of muscle proteins increased in the GH group by 33% +/- 48%, and muscle free glutamine increased by 207% +/- 327% in the GH group. Total intramuscular water increased by 12% +/- 14% in the control group as a result of an increase in extracellular water of 67% +/- 86%; these increases were not seen in the GH group. In contrast, the intracellular water increased by 6% +/- 8% in the GH group. CONCLUSION: Treatment with GH for 5 days in patients with multiple organ failure stimulated muscle protein synthesis, increased muscle free glutamine, and increased intracellular muscle water.
Source: Annals of Surgery
Authors: Lena Gamrin, Pia Essén, Eric Hultman, Margaret A. McNurlan, Peter J. Garlick, Jan Wernerman
Institutions: Karolinska Institutet, Stony Brook University
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1979954100