Growth hormone treatment for burned children.

Several growth hormones show promise in the treatment of burn injuries, particularly for paediatric patients. Animal studies and clinical trials indicate that growth hormones help modulate the devastating effects of the hypermetabolic response to burn injury and improve wound healing. Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been shown to reduce loss of body weight, stimulate protein synthesis, increase epithelial cell proliferation, and accelerate wound healing. Accelerated wound closure reduces the risk of infection, shortens hospital stay, and lowers overall medical costs. Current investigations are in progress to determine the effects of rhGH on anabolic growth arrests experienced by paediatric burn survivors.