Growth following renal transplantation in children and adolescents

Growth following renal transplantation in children and adolescents. Sixteen children who received a cadaveric renal transplant surviving 1 to 5 years, had their growth rate assessed while receiving 10 to 25 mg of prednisone every 48 hours. Six of 9 patients witha a bone age of 12 years or less grew at a "normal" rate. None of the patients whose bone age was greater than 12 years grew at a "normal" rate. Since low-dose alternate-day prednisone therapy allows for optimal growth but does not appear to compromise kidney survival, we feel such a regime should be instituted in growing children receiving a kidney transplant.