Analysis of growth during prepubertal years in long-term survivors after pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Growth after pediatric liver transplantation (LT) has been the subject of reviews. The conclusions have not been consistent.


OBJECTIVE
To describe post-LT growth patterns in prepubertal liver transplant recipients and identify variables affecting their growth.


METHODS
Sixty-seven prepubertal transplant recipients met the inclusion criteria. Variables assessed were age, sex, pretransplant lack of growth, type of transplantation, primary diagnosis, liver and kidney function at one year post-LT, complications and retransplantation, prednisone therapy duration, allograft rejection episodes during the first year, cholesterol, triglycerides and immunosuppressive regimen. Mean follow-up was 3.5 years (range: 2-6 years).


RESULTS
Growth according to baseline z-score, indications for transplantation and steroid withdrawal showed significant differences at 2 years post-LT.


CONCLUSIONS
The causes of poorest z-scores in height post-LT were: height z-scores under -2.0 at transplantation, metabolic diagnosis, and use of steroids beyond 1 year post-LT.
López-Espinosa
Jesús
J
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Service, Hospital Materno-Infantil Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
Yeste
Diego
D
Iglesias
Juan
J
Ortega
Juan
J
Margarit
Carlos
C
Gussinyé
Miguel
M
Carrascosa
Antonio
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014181:Transplantation Immunology / Q000502:physiology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents