[Experiment study of enteral immuno-nutrition combined with recombinant human growth hormone in treatment of severe scald in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of enteral immuno-nutrition (EIN) combined with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on nutrition metabolism, immunological function and inflammatory response in rats with severe scald. METHODS: Sixty-four SD rats subjected to 30% total body surface area (TBSA) III degree scalds were randomly divided into EIN and EIN combined with recombinant human growth hormone (EIN+rhGH) groups. Animals of both groups were fed isocaloric enteral nutrition. Nutrition metabolism, T lymphocyte subsets, serum levels of immunoglobulins and inflammatory mediators were determined on the 1, 4, 7 and 10 postinjury day (n=8). Another 8 rats served as controls, and the above-mentioned parameters were also determined. RESULTS: Total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), transferrin protein (TFP), CD3(+), CD4(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+), IgG, IgM and IgA in group EIN+rhGH were slightly higher than those of group EIN (all P>0.05) at all time points after the injury, while CD8(+) slightly lowered (P>0.05). Serum levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plummeted significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01)on 4th, 7th and 10th postinjury day compared with group EIN. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that EIN combined with rhGH is superior to EIN alone in the early stage of severe scald in rats, not only ameliorate the disturbance in metabolism and immunological function, but also reduce inflammatory response.