RESUMO
To evaluate the effect of anabolic steroid(AS) on body composition and protein metabolism in malnourished CAPD patients, 7 CAPD patients who were proved to be malnourished by subjective global assessment received 200mg of AS, nandrolone decanoate, by intramuscular route monthly for 5 months. We analyzed the body composition, biochemical nutritional markers, plasma and dialysate amino acids(AA) before and after administration of AS. The mean age was 53.6+/-11.5 years, the sex ratio was 2:5, and the duration of CAPD was 28.5+/-18.7 months. Two patients were diabetics. Five months after AS administration, %lean body mass seemed to increase from 52.6+/-11.7 to 57.3+/-11.0%(P>0.05), but there were no significant changes in body weight and body mass index. Serum insulin-like growth factor-I (172.4+/-88.5 vs. 204.1+/-85.8ng/ml, P<0.05) and transferrin(213.6+/-55.4 vs. 239.0+/-55.3mg/dl, P<0.05) were significantly increased, and serum total CO2(31.1+/-4.5 vs. 25.9+/-2.5mM/L, P<0.05) were significantly decreased. Urea nitrogen appearance(4.0+/-2.0 vs. 3.6+/-1.6g/ day) seemed to be decreased. Both plasma essential AA(EAA) level(738.3+/-206.5 vs. 492.5+/-187.2micromol/L, P<0.05) and peritoneal EAA loss(565.0+/-186.1 vs. 377.4+/-113.9micromol/day, P<0.05) decreased significantly after administration. Plasma total and non- essential amino acids(NEAA) level tended to be increased and peritoneal total and NEAA loss seemed to be decreased without statistical significance. In conclusion, AS seems to have anabolic effect and be useful in the correction of malnutrition in CAPD patients.