AIM: To explore the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on intestinal mucosal epithelial cell proliferation and nutritional status in patients with enterocutaneous fistula.METHODS: Eight patients with enterocutaneous fistulas recived recombinant human growth hormone(10 μg/d) for 7 d. Image analysis and immunohisto-chemical techniques were used to analyse the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in intestinal mucosal epithelial cells in biopsy samples from the patients who had undergone an endoscopic biopsy through the fistula at day 0, 4 and 7. Body weights, nitrogen excretion, serum levels of total proteins, albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and fibronectin were measured at day 0, 4 and 7. RESULTS: Significant improvements occurred in the expression of PCNA in the intestinal mucosal epithelial cells at clay 4 and 7 compared to day 0 (24.93±3.41%, 30.46±5.24% vs 12.92±4.20%, P