The influence of intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH) on wound healing in tumor-bearing rats.

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to measure the metabolic influence of tumor growth in rats. Parameters for the metabolic state were wound-healing qualities of colon and skin. Both early and later stages of tumor growth lowered wound healing qualities to a statistically significant degree. No anorexia or weight loss was found in this rat-tumor model during the study period. Intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH; with proteins and carbohydrates) of tumor-bearing rats stimulates tumor growth but at the same time restores wound-healing qualities to control levels, both during early and later stages of tumor growth. It is suggested that tumor growth leads to an as yet not measurable disturbance of the metabolic equilibrium but that IVH can replenish the tumor-bearing host and restore the metabolic equilibrium.