Rapid Communication
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 28, 2008; 14(44): 6858-6862
Published online Nov 28, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.6858
Effects of recombinant human growth hormone on enterocutaneous fistula patients
Guo-Sheng Gu, Jian-An Ren, Ning Li, Jie-Shou Li
Guo-Sheng Gu, Jian-An Ren, Ning Li, Jie-Shou Li, The Research Institute of General Surgery, Clinical School (Jinling Hospital), School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Li N and Li JS designed research; Gu GS and Ren JA performed research; Gu GS wrote the paper.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30571797 and National Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, No. BK2006719
Correspondence to: Jian-An Ren, MD, The Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, 305 Zhongshan East Road, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China. guguoshengde@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-25-80860437 Fax: +86-25-84803956
Received: September 9, 2008
Revised: November 7, 2008
Accepted: November 14, 2008
Published online: November 28, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To explore the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on intestinal mucosal epithelial cell proliferation and nutritional status in patients with enterocutaneous fistula.

METHODS: Eight patients with enterocutaneous fistulas received recombinant human growth hormone (10 μg/d) for 7 d. Image analysis and immunohisto-chemical techniques were used to analyse the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in intestinal mucosal epithelial cells in biopsy samples from the patients who had undergone an endoscopic biopsy through the fistula at day 0, 4 and 7. Body weights, nitrogen excretion, serum levels of total proteins, albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and fibronectin were measured at day 0, 4 and 7.

RESULTS: Significant improvements occurred in the expression of PCNA in the intestinal mucosal epithelial cells at day 4 and 7 compared to day 0 (24.93 ± 3.41%, 30.46 ± 5.24% vs 12.92 ± 4.20%, P < 0.01). These changes were accompanied by the significant improvement of villus height (500.54 ± 53.79 μm, 459.03 ± 88.98 μm vs 210.94 ± 49.16 μm, P < 0.01), serum levels of total proteins (70.52 ± 5.13 g/L, 74.89 ± 5.16 g/L vs 63.51 ± 2.47 g/L, P < 0.01), albumin (39.44 ± 1.18 g/L, 42.39 ± 1.68 g/L vs 35.74 ± 1.75 g/L, P < 0.01) and fibronectin (236.3 ± 16.5 mg/L, 275.8 ± 16.9 mg/L vs 172.5 ± 21.4 mg/L, P < 0.01) at day 4 and 7, and prealbumin (286.38 ± 65.61 mg/L vs 180.88 ± 48.28 mg/L, P < 0.05), transferrin (2.61 ± 0.12 g/L vs 2.41 ± 0.14 g/L, P < 0.05) at day 7. Nitrogen excretion was significantly decreased at day 7 (3.40 ± 1.65 g/d vs 7.25 ± 3.92 g/d, P < 0.05). No change was observed in the body weight.

CONCLUSION: Recombinant human growth hormone could promote intestinal mucosal epithelial cell proliferation and protein synthesis in patients with enterocutaneous fistula.

Keywords: Recombinant human growth hormone; Enterocutaneous fistula; Intestinal; Epithelial cell; Proliferating cell nuclear antigen