Open AccessLong‐term Follow‐up After Pediatric Liver Transplantation
Author(s) -
Loeb Nathalie,
Owens Jillian S.,
Strom Michele,
Farassati Farsad,
Van Roestel Krista,
Chambers Kathryn,
Kean Penni,
Ng Vicky L.,
Avitzur Yaron,
Carricato Megan,
Wales Paul W.,
CourtneyMartin Glenda
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/mpg.0000000000001815
Subject(s) - medicine , transplantation , liver transplantation , multivariate analysis , proportional hazards model , percentile , cohort , bivariate analysis , univariate analysis , pediatrics , surgery , statistics , mathematics
Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe long‐term growth postpediatric liver transplantation and to conduct bivariate and multivariate analysis of factors that may predict post‐transplantation growth in children who received a liver transplant from January 1999 to December 2008 at the Hospital for Sick Children. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with follow‐up of up‐to 10 years post‐transplantation. Mean height and weight z scores and annual differences in mean z scores were plotted against time after transplantation. A 1‐way analysis of variance was conducted. Multivariate and univariate Cox proportional hazards analyses were conducted to determine factors associated with reaching the 50th and 25th percentiles for height. Results: A total of 127 children met eligibility criteria. The mean height z score at time of transplantation was −2.21 which by the second year post‐transplantation increased significantly to −0.66 (mean increase of 1.55 standard deviation units). There were no further significant increases in mean height z score from 2 years post‐transplantation until the end of follow‐up at year 10. In multivariate analysis, height at transplant was the most important predictor of linear growth post‐transplantation. Conclusions: Children who underwent liver transplantation had significant catch‐up growth in the first 2 years post‐transplantation followed by a plateau phase. Increased height z‐score at transplantation is the most important predictor of long‐term growth.