Growth Hormone Therapy in Critically Ill Patients

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Abstract
In this issue of the Journal, Takala et al.1 report an increase in mortality among critically ill patients treated with growth hormone. This finding is of major importance and will generate considerable debate. The results of the two well-designed, multicenter trials described by Takala et al. call into question the safety of growth hormone therapy in critically ill patients. Previous studies showed that growth hormone in such patients was beneficial or at least did not differ from placebo.We need to compare these two excellent studies carefully with previous trials in order to explain the difference in results. In the . . .