Growth and nutritional evaluation in children with chronic liver disease (CLD) before and after liver transplantation

Acute or final hepatic insufficiency needs to be treated with hepatic transplantation. It represents an important cause of growth retardation mainly due to decrease of daily caloric intake and macro-/micronutrient adsorption and alteration of hepatic metabolism. Sometimes nutritional supplementation may be necessary. Aim of this study is to evaluate growth and nutritional status in children with hepatic insufficiency before and after hepatic transplantation.Ten children (4 boys and 6 girls; 3-13 years; 8 biliary atresy, 1 type I tyrosinemia, 1 Alagille\u2019s Syndrome) were included in the study. Height, weight, and laboratory (albumin, hepatic and biliary index, lipids profile, coagulation) data were detected before, after 1, and 3 year hepatic transplantation. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF-binding protein 3 (IGF-BP3), vitamin B12, and folic acid were measured only at the last visit. Parametric statistical analysis was performed. The auxological and laboratory characteristics of the patients are reported in the Table (p