Linear Growth Following Pediatric Liver Transplantation

The linear growth of 29 patients was evaluated from two to 4⅓ years after liver transplantation. All patients received cyclosporine and low-dose prednisone. Eight patients displayed acceleration of linear growth velocity and were above the fifth percentile at the end of the evaluation period. Four patients grew normally prior to transplantation and continued to grow normally after the surgical procedure. Only four patients dropped from higher levels to below the fifth percentile. Thirteen patients were less than the fifth percentile before and after surgery; ten of these 13 patients have attained normal or accelerated growth velocity. Good linear growth has been achieved in more than three fourths of patients who underwent liver transplantation.