Linear growth following pediatric liver transplantation.

The linear growth of 29 patients was evaluated from two to 41/2 years after liver transplantation. All patients received cyclosporine and low-dose prednisone. Eight patients (28%) displayed acceleration of linear growth velocity and were above the fifth percentile at the end of the evaluation period. Four patients (14%) grew normally prior to transplantation and continued to grow normally after the surgical procedure. Only four patients (14%) dropped from higher levels to below the fifth percentile. Thirteen patients (45%) were less than the fifth percentile before and after surgery; ten of these 13 patients have attained normal or accelerated growth velocity. Good linear growth has been achieved in more than three fourths of patients who underwent liver transplantation.