Somatropin, recombinant human growth hormone, is used for the treatment of growth hormone deficiencies and conditions with associated weight loss. A 42-year-old male was admitted to the trauma service after suffering a traumatic crush injury. Approximately five months later, the patient was readmitted due to cachexia and intractable vomiting. Somatropin (0.1 mg/kg) injection therapy was initiated. This was a novel therapeutic approach to a patient that was otherwise declining. Despite complications with nutrition, somatropin appeared to augment weight gain.
FranklinSLGeffnerME. Growth hormone: the expansion of available products and indications. Endocrinol Metab Clin N Am2009; 38: 587–611.
2.
JenkinsRCRossRJ. Growth hormone therapy for protein catabolism. Q J Med1996; 89: 813–819.
3.
FazeliPKLawsonEAPrabhakaranR. Effects of recombinant human growth hormone in anorexia nervosa: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab2010; 95: 4889–4897.
4.
PichardCKyleUJollietP. Treatment of cachexia with recombinant growth hormone in a patient before lung transplantation: a case report. Crit Care Med1999; 27: 1639–1642.
5.
EllegardLBosaeusINordgrenS. Low-dose recombinant human growth hormone increased body weight and lean body mass in patients with short bowel syndrome. Ann Surg1997; 225: 88–96.
6.
HighWMBriones-GalangMClarkJA. Effects of growth hormone replacement therapy on cognition after traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma2010; 27: 1565–1575.
