Pilot study of growth hormone administration during the refeeding of malnourished anorexia nervosa patients

Objective: In anorexia nervosa (AN), medical stabilization and nutritional repletion are pivotal steps toward physical and psychological recovery. Nut ritional stabilization is often difficult in this patient group. Recombinan t human growth hormone (rhGH) has been safely used as adjuvant therapy in o ther groups of malnourished patients. We hypothesize that rhGH treatment wi ll hasten medical stabilization in AN patients. S tudy Design: Fifteen patients admitted for inpatient treatment for AN, ages 12-18 years, were enrolled in a 28-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-c ontrolled study. Patients received rhGH (0.05 mg/kg subcutaneously) or an e quivalent volume of placebo daily. Outcome measures included time to reach medical/cardiovascular stability, rate of weight gain, and duration of hosp italization. All patients received a standard refeeding protocol. Results: Mean admission body mass index was 14.5 kg/m(2). The rhGH and plac ebo groups did not differ significantly in admission weight, BMI or daily c aloric intake. Patients treated with rhGH reached medical/cardiovascular st ability more rapidly than those treated with placebo (median 17 vs. 37 days , p = 0.02). Numerical but not statistically significant improvements were seen in weight gain and length of hospitalization in the rhGH group. Conclusion: Patients treated with rhGH achieved medical/cardiovascular stab ility more rapidly than those treated with placebo, and this, in turn, decr eased the length of stay.