title: The influence of interferon-alpha and combination interferon-alpha and lamivudine therapy on height and weight in children with chronic hepatitis B infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the height and weight patterns of children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with and without treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients with immunoactive CHB randomly assigned to receive interferon-alpha2a (IFN) (5 mIU/m2, 6 months, group I) or IFN (same dose and duration) plus lamivudine (4 mg/kg/day, 24 months) (group II). Fifteen immunotolerant patients (group III) were followed without any treatment. Height (Ht-SDS), weight (Wt-SDS) and growth velocity (GV-SDS) standard deviation scores were monitored for a total of 36 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ht-SDS was significantly lower in group II than in group I one year after completion of IFN treatment (p < 0.05). Wt-SDS was significantly higher in group I than the other groups two years after completion of IFN treatment (p < 0.05). In groups I and II, the percentage of children showing abnormal GV-SDS decreased once treatment was completed (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CHB does not have deleterious effects on height and weight. Although IFN treatment temporarily compromises weight gain and growth velocity, lamivudine does not have any additional adverse effect.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. zarifekuloglu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Zarife
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kuloğlu
authors.forename: Aydan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kansu
authors.forename: Fulya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Demirçeken
authors.forename: Z Serap
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Arici
authors.forename: Merih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berberoğlu
authors.forename: Gönül
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ocal
authors.forename: Nurten
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Girgin
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019259:Lamivudine