Catch-up growth occurs after renal transplantation in children of pubertal age.
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of growth after renal transplantation in children of pubertal age by analyzing the annual increment in height standard deviation score (Ht SDS) in all girls > or =10 years and boys > or =11 years of age at the time of transplantation until latest follow-up (minimum 2 years).


METHODS
A total of 59 grafts were placed in 54 recipients (30 boys) between December 1984 and January 1995. Mean (range) age at transplantation was 13.6 years (10.1 to 17.7 years). Fifty-one percent had congenital renal disease, 36% acquired renal disease, and 13% had hereditary nephropathies. Eighty-seven percent were first grafts; of these, 29% were performed pre-emptively, and 23% were from living related donors.


RESULTS
Mean (SD) Ht SDS at transplantation was -1.8 (0.2) and increased significantly thereafter, such that it was -1.6 (0.2) at 1 year, n = 52; -1.5 (0.2) at 2 years, n = 47; -1.0 (0.2) at 3 years, n = 27; -0.7 (0.3) at 4 years, n = 19; and -0.6 (0.3), n = 13, at 5 years after transplantation (analysis of variance, P < .001). The greatest improvement in Ht SDS in the first year was seen in children with the highest glomerular filtration rate (r = 0.429, P = .002) and in those who were shortest at the time of transplantation (r = -0.356, P = .009).


CONCLUSIONS
Catch-up growth occurs in children receiving renal transplants during the expected time of puberty.
Maxwell
H
H
Institute of Child Health, University of London, United Kingdom.
Haffner
D
D
Rees
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D002102:Cadaver; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies