Protein catabolism is a common problem in many different patient groups (Table 1). Loss of body protein results in muscle weakness, impaired wound healing, compromised mucosal integrity and a defective immune response. Protein catabolism is accelerated in a variety of conditions, including sepsis, burns, trauma, surgery and organ failure, and when prolonged results in an increase in morbidity and mortality. Nutritional status is an important predictor of outcome in the critically ill and those with cancer and organ failure. Thus, much attention has focused on the use of anabolic therapies, such as growth hormone (GH), to improve the nutritional state of the catabolic patient.
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