Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2025
Murine Kidney Transplant Technique
Published on: October 20, 2015
Growth in Children After a Kidney Transplant: A Retrospective, Observational Single-Center Study
Mugahid Elamin1, Bashair Alabbasi1, Majed Aloufi1
1Pediatric Nephrology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, SAU.
Insights
Children show improved weight and height after kidney transplantation (KTX), a vital treatment for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Catch-up growth is observed, though influenced by factors like age at transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Growth and Development
Background:
- Kidney transplantation (KTX) is the optimal treatment for pediatric end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
- Children with ESKD often experience compromised growth, with catch-up growth anticipated post-KTX.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate catch-up growth in children following KTX.
- To assess the impact of the child's age at KTX on growth outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of weight and height data from 37 children pre-KTX and at 12, 24 months post-KTX.
- Stratification of patients by initial weight/height percentiles and age groups (2-5, 6-10, 11-14 years).
Main Results:
- Significant increases in mean weight (21 to 34 kg) and height (115 to 134 cm) were observed 24 months post-KTX.
- Weight and height percentiles showed significant crossing, indicating catch-up growth.
- Significant changes in weight and height were noted across different age strata.
Conclusions:
- Children demonstrate gradual improvement in weight and height post-KTX.
- Age at transplantation, disease duration, and medical management influence growth trajectories.
- Close monitoring and a multidisciplinary approach are crucial for optimizing growth after pediatric KTX.
Background:
Kidney transplantation (KTX) is the best treatment for children with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). It greatly improves their quality of life. Children's growth is one of the chronic issues that is known to be compromised during ESKD; therefore, catch-up growth is usually expected to be seen after KTX.
Objectives:
We aimed to evaluate children's catchup growth after KTX and assess the impact of children's age at the time of KTX on catchup growth.
Patients And Methods:
We performed a retrospective analysis of weight and height data for children pre-KTX, at 12 months, and 24 months post KTX. We stratified them into five percentile categories for weight and height and counted the number of KTX patients in each category at the same three time points. We also stratified them into three different age groups: two to five, six to 10, and 11 to 12 years, and estimated the mean and standard deviation of both weight and height of each one.
Results:
Between 2009 and 2019, we identified 37 children who underwent KTX. The mean weight pre-KTX was 21 kg. It increased to 28 and 34 kg post KTX at 12 and 24 months, respectively. The mean height pre-KTX was 115 cm. It increased to 126 and 134 cm post KTX at 12 and 24 months, respectively. There was a significant crossing of both weight and height percentiles when we stratified them based on different initial percentiles. There was a significant change in both weight and height when we stratified them into three age groups: two to five, six to 10, and 11 to 14 years.
Conclusion:
The growth patterns of children after a KTX can vary among children. However, our retrospective observational study showed positive results, suggesting gradual improvement in weight and height gain post KTX. Factors such as age at the time of KTX, duration of kidney disease, medication regimens, and overall health status can influence a child's growth trajectory. Close monitoring, proper nutrition, and a multidisciplinary approach are essential in supporting a child's growth after a KTX. Our findings are limited by the small sample size and retrospective design, therefore a well-structured prospective study with a large sample size is required.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Kidney Transplant I: Introduction
01:26Kidney Transplant II: Surgical Procedure
01:16Kidney Transplant III: Nursing Management
01:29Acute Kidney Injury III: Clinical Manifestations
01:30Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention