Can children catch up in growth after living donor liver transplantation?

Several studies have shown improved growth after liver transplantation, but long-term follow-up data have been lacking. This study was aimed at evaluating the ability of children to catch up in height after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and at clarifying factors affecting growth. Growth was assessed by serial height measurements performed during follow-up. Standardized height scores (z scores) were calculated for each patient preoperatively (at the baseline) and at 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 15 years after LDLT. The risk potential of several preoperative and postoperative variables was evaluated. A total of 237 patients, including 159 females (67.1%), met the inclusion criteria. The mean age at the time of transplant was 3.89 +/- 0.28 years. The mean z score was -1.70 +/- 0.09, whereas the baseline height deficit was -6.50 +/- 0.39 cm. After LDLT, the z score improved significantly and reached -0.64 +/- 0.14 by the end of the first year. The best height improvement was seen after 10 years (-0.33 +/- 0.16). However, significant growth retardation remained at 15 years (-0.47 +/- 0.17). Height showed 3 distinct phases after transplantation: a growth spurt, a plateau phase, and a late declining phase. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that children under 2 years and those with the most growth retardation at the time of LDLT achieved the best height gain in the first year. Late growth retardation was related to the baseline z score, ABO-incompatible grafts, and graft dysfunction. In conclusion, children have the potential ability to catch up in growth to normal levels after LDLT; they can show impressive height gains in the first year followed by protracted improvement over 10 years and then late growth retardation. Young age is a determinant for early height gain, whereas ABO-incompatible grafts and graft dysfunction are determinants for late growth retardation. In contrast, the baseline z score is a determinant for both.