Effect of renal graft on longitudinal growth in prepubertal children.

Objectives: Linear growth impairment frequently accompanies chronic kidney disease in children. Despite successful renal transplant, growth retardation may persist in renal allograft recipients.

Materials And Methods: We recorded the longitudinal growth and biochemical data of prepubertal children during the first 2 years after renal transplant in 34 children (18 boys [52.9%]; mean age at renal transplant, 7.3 ± 2.5 y; range, 1.4 to 9.8 y). Height standard deviation scores were calculated. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the increase in height standard deviation scores over the first 2 years after renal transplant: group 1 (increases in height standard deviation scores < 1) and group 2 (increases in height standard deviation scores > 1).

Results: Increases in height standard deviation scores were 0.12 ± 0.34 and 1.62 ± 0.52 for group 1 and group 2 (P < .001). The number of acute rejection episodes was significantly different between groups (P = .04). At renal transplant, increases in height standard deviation scores were negatively correlated with mean age (r: -0.354; P = .04) and height standard deviation scores (r: -0.353; P = .04). In the multivariate model, mean age and height standard deviation scores at renal transplant remained significantly associated with increases in height standard deviation scores (P = .018; β coefficient: -0.341, 95% CI: -0.17; -0.002; and P = .005; β coefficient: -0.431, 95% CI: -0.519; -0.101).

Conclusions: Renal transplant improves linear growth by providing moderate or accelerated growth in prepubertal children.