OXANDROLONE, AN ANABOLIC-STEROID, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE RATE OFWEIGHT-GAIN IN THE RECOVERY PHASE AFTER MAJOR BURNS

We studied the effect of an anabolic steroid, oxandrolone, combined wi th a high-protein diet (2 g/kg/day) on the rate of weight gain and res toration of muscle function in the recovery phase after deep burns of 30 of 50% of total body surface (n = 7), The findings were compared,vi th findings from an isocaloric (2 g/kg/day protein) diet alone (n = 6) , The study was prospective and randomized, Data were also compared re trospectively with data from a group of burn patients treated in the s ame fashion using a high-calorie, high-protein diet with a protein con tent of 1.3 to 1.4 g/kg/day (n = 10), Muscle function was quantified u sing a physical therapy index defining rate of progress (0 = lowest, 1 0 = highest). Oxandrolone was given in the beginning of the recovery p hase in a dosage of 10 mg orally twice a day, The recovery phase was d efined as resolution of the hypermetabolic state using physiologic cri teria, The study was performed in an acute burn rehabilitation facilit y where patients were transferred once entering the recovery phase, Pa tients in each group were not different with regard to age and burn si ze, We found that mean weight loss for all patients was 11 +/- 2% of p reburn weight during the catabolic phase despite optimum nutrition and early wound closure. Data are presented as mean +/- SD, We found that the average weight gain during the first 3 weeks was 14.5 +/- 2.5 pou nds and that the physical therapy index was 8.8 +/- 0.5 of recovery in the oxandrolone-protein group (n = 7); both of these values were sign ificantly greater than the corresponding values in the other groups. I n the high-protein alone group (n = 6), weight gain was 7.5 +/- 1.7 po unds and physical therapy index was 7.0 +/- 0.8, In the retrospective group (n = 10), weight gain was 4.4 +/- 0.8 pounds and function index was 4.1 +/- 0.5, The daily caloric intake was not different between gr oups, Protein content and oxandrolone were the variables, No side effe cts were noted with oxandrolone. We can conclude that an anabolic ster oid combined with increased protein intake can significantly increase the rate of restoration of weight gain postburn.