Brief Reports
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2005; 11(19): 2981-2983
Published online May 21, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i19.2981
Combined human growth hormone and lactulose for prevention and treatment of multiple organ dysfunction in patients with severe chronic hepatitis B
Hui-Guo Ding, Jing Shan, Bin Zhang, Hong-Bo Ma, Li Zhou, Rui Jin, Yu-Fen Tan, Li-Xiang He
Hui-Guo Ding, Jing Shan, Bin Zhang, Hong-Bo Ma, Li Zhou, Rui Jin, Yu-Fen Tan, Li-Xiang He, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100054, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Hui-Guo Ding, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100054, China. dinghuiguo@medmail.com.cn
Telephone: +86-10-63292211-2718 Fax: +86-10-63295525
Received: March 5, 2004
Revised: March 6, 2004
Accepted: April 13, 2004
Published online: May 21, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of combined recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) and lactulose for treatment and/or prevention of multiple organ dysfunction in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B.

METHODS: Forty-eight inpatients with chronic severe hepatitis B were randomly divided into rhGH group (n = 28) and control group (n = 20). In rhGH group, 4-4.5 IU of rhGH was injected intramuscularly once daily for 2-4 wk, and 100 mL of enema containing 30 mL of lactulose, 2 g of metronidazole and 0.9% saline was administered every 2 d for 2-4 wk. Their symptoms and complications were noted. Liver and kidney functions were analyzed by an Olympus analyzer. Serum GH, IGF-1, IGFBP1 and IGFBP3 were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS: Clinical symptoms of 90% of these patients in rhGH group were obviously improved. The total effectiveness in rhGH group was better than that in control group (75% vs 40%, P<0.05). After 2- and 4-wk treatment of rhGH respectively, serum albumin (26.1±4.1 vs 30.2±5.3, 31.9±5.1 g/L), prealbumin (79.6±28.0 vs 106.6±54.4, 108.4±55.0 g/L), cholesterol (76.3±16.7 vs 85.6±32.3, 96.1±38.7 mg/dL), and IGFBP1 (56.8±47.2 vs 89.7±50.3 ng/mL after 2 wk) were significantly increased compared to control group (P<0.05). However, serum GH was decreased. The increase of serum IGF1 and IGFBP3 after rhGH treatment was also observed.

CONCLUSION: rhGH in combination with lactulose may be beneficial to the prevention and treatment of multiple organ dysfunction in patients with chronic severe hepatitis.

Keywords: Chronic severe hepatitis B; Multiple organ dysfunction; Human growth hormone; Insulin-like growth factor-1; Lactulose