Growth after intestinal transplant in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Transplantation Surgery
• Growth and Development

Background:

• Intestinal transplantation is increasingly performed in children with intestinal failure.
• Post-transplant growth patterns in pediatric recipients remain under-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the longitudinal growth and catch-up growth in children following intestinal transplantation.
• To identify factors influencing post-transplant growth in this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records from 23 children who underwent intestinal transplantation between 1999 and 2004.
• Calculation of weight and height Z-scores using CDC growth charts.
• Statistical analysis including ANOVA to assess growth changes over time.

Main Results:

• Pre-transplant growth was significantly retarded, with median Z-scores of -1.67 for weight and -3.36 for height.
• Significant improvements in weight and height Z-scores were observed at 6, 12, and 24 months post-transplant (P < .002).
• Factors like sex, age at transplant, length of stay, and early rejection did not significantly impact catch-up growth.

Conclusions:

• Successful intestinal transplantation facilitates significant catch-up growth in children with pre-existing growth failure.
• Intestinal transplantation offers a viable option for improving growth trajectories in pediatric patients with intestinal failure.