Objective To investigate the effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on rat liver injury with severe acute pancreatitis.Methods Severe acute pancreatitis model was established by injection of sodium taurocholate into the pancreatobiliary duct in 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats.Rats were randomly divided into experiment group (n =20) and control group (n =20).Another 20 male SD rats injected saline served as negative control group.The experiment group were treated with subcutaneously injected rhGH for 3 days,1 U·kg-1 ·d-1.12 h and 24 h after operation,the level of ALT,AST,TNF-α,IL-1 β,SOD,MDA,endotoxin and D-lactate was detected respectively;the degree of live cell apoptosis and pathological score of pancreatic tissue were compared among these groups.Results In comparison with negative control group,the level of ALT,AST,TNF-α,IL-1β,MDA,endotoxin and D-lactate,the liver cell apoptosis index and pathological score of pancreatic tissuc were significantly higher in the control group and experiment group at 12 h and 24 h after operation (P ＜ 0.05).ALT,AST,TNF-α,endotoxin and D-lactate at 12 h and 24 h were significantly lower in the experiment group (P ＜ 0.05).MDA level significantly declined at 12 h and 24 h after operation in experiment group(P ＜ 0.05).Liver cell apoptosis index of the control group was higher than experiment group (P =0.003).Conclusion rhGH pretreatment relieves liver injury in rat with severe acute pancreatitis.