title: Serum growth factors and growth indices pre- and post-pediatric intestinal transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although intestinal transplantation (ITx) has succeeded in liberating children with intestinal failure from total parenteral nutrition (TPN), positive growth has yet to be achieved in the majority of patients. This investigation aims to evaluate levels of serum growth factors as they relate to growth parameters and nutritional outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum measures of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) that had been obtained before and after transplantation were reviewed (with Institutional Review Board approval) in a subset of pediatric ITx recipients. Z-scores for weight and height were calculated at transplant and biannually thereafter for 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five children received a small bowel/liver transplant between August 1996 and March 2000 (median age, 1.3 years). Before transplantation, levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were low in 60% and 67% of patients, respectively. Posttransplant levels of these growth factors were within normal limits or elevated in all but 2 patients (IGFBP-3 only). A positive trend in z-scores was observed in just one of 5 patients for weight and in 2 of 5 for height/length during the follow-up period. Of the 3 patients who experienced negative linear growth velocity over time, 2 had low pretransplant levels of both IGF-1 and IGFBP-3. All patients were weaned from TPN within 3 months after transplant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pretransplant levels of growth mediators may be predictive factors in children who will require an intensive regimen of nutritional rehabilitation posttransplant to promote the growth process. Absorption studies may aid in determining the appropriate nutrient substrates for the post-ITx population.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nutrition Department, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Anita M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nucci
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Jane Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Yaworski
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazariegos
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beserock
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Barksdale
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D007409:Intestinal Atresia / Q000601:surgery*; D007422:Intestines / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I