Short-term application of low-dose growth hormone in surgical patients: Effects on nitrogen balance and blood glucose

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients (mean ± SD)

Variable	Placebo (n = 24)	rhGH (n = 24)	P
Age (yr)	58.50 ± 9.35	59.08 ± 10.93	0.789
Range	39-75	35-74
Sex (female/male)	11/13	9/15	0.558
Weight (kg)	57.90 ± 8.42	56.19 ± 11.83	0.567
Height (cm)	162.42 ± 6.92	162.88 ± 7.16	0.823
Sepsis score	0.79 ± 0.98	0.67 ± 0.87	0.742
Operation position, n (%)
Resection of stomach	6 (25)	5 (20.8)	0.297
Resection of colon	5 (20.8)	7 (29.2)
Resection of rectum	12 (50)	9 (37.5)
Others	1 (4.2)	3 (12.5)

Table 2 Daily and accumulated nitrogen balance after operation (g)

Time afteroperation	rhGH (n =24)	Placebo (n =24)	P
D 3	0.29 ± 3.31	-0.86 ± 5.81	0.405
D 4	0.87 ± 3.23	-2.43 ± 5.60	0.016
D 5	0.87 ± 3.85	-0.94 ± 5.93	0.217
D 6	1.71 ± 3.56	-1.03 ± 3.47	0.010
D 7	2.76 ± 2.91	-1.35 ± 3.13	< 0.001
D 8	2.69 ± 2.89	-1.08 ± 3.48	< 0.001
D 9	2.18 ± 4.27	-1.36 ± 6.16	0.025
Accumulated NB (7 d)	11.37 ± 16.82	-9.11 ± 17.52	0.0003

Data presented as mean ± SD. NB: Nitrogen balance.

Table 3 Nutritional condition measurement of two group patients

Test	D 1	D 3	D 10
Albumin (g/L)
rhGH	40.85 ± 3.09	33.26 ± 3.82	35.16 ± 4.21
Placebo	41.19 ± 4.17	33.95 ± 3.68	35.57 ± 3.84
Transferrin (g/L)
rhGH	2.41 ± 0.45	1.75 ± 0.44	2.15 ± 0.66
Placebo	2.51 ± 0.45	1.79 ± 0.42	2.11 ± 0.44
Prealbumin (mg/L)
rhGH	133.90 ± 83.95	71.44 ± 46.54	105.51 ± 69.30
Placebo	164.03 ± 88.16	85.55 ± 57.87	109.99 ± 97.37
Fibronectin (mg/L)
rhGH	97.40 ± 11.74	80.85 ± 8.13	104.77 ± 19.94a
Placebo	98.70 ± 20.17	83.69 ± 10.50	93.03 ± 16.03
TLC (109/L)
rhGH	1.64 ± 0.60	1.03 ± 0.33	1.36 ± 0.54
Placebo	1.59 ± 0.52	1.15 ± 0.59	1.38 ± 0.46

Values are mean ± SD. TLC: Total lymphocyte count.

^aP < 0.05 vs placebo group.

Table 4 Comparison of blood glucose levels

Test	D 1	D 3	D 4	D 5	D 6	D 7	D 8	D 9
Glucose (mmol/L)
rhGH	5.14 ± 0.64	6.71 ± 1.93a	7.17 ± 1.86a	8.28 ± 2.30a	7.68 ± 2.15a	7.29 ± 2.93	6.40 ± 2.00	6.20 ± 2.13
Placebo	5.26 ± 1.09	5.68 ± 1.33	5.81 ± 1.56	5.84 ± 1.48	5.95 ± 2.34	6.01 ± 2.64	5.66 ± 2.03	5.70 ± 1.89

Values are mean ± SD.

^aP < 0.05 vs placebo group.

Table 5 Main adverse events

Event	rhGH group	Placebo group
Hyperglycemia	23a	4
Tetter	1	0
Sepsis	0	0
Infection	2	3
Death	0	0

^aP < 0.05 vs placebo group.