Growth of children with biliary atresia living with native livers: impact of corticoid therapy after portoenterostomy

We addressed growth of biliary atresia (BA) patients living with native livers between ages 0–6 and effects of post-surgical corticosteroid treatment on growth. Growth charts of 28 BA patients born in Finland between 1987 and 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. Dosage and length of corticosteroid treatment and hydrocortisone substitution were reviewed. At birth, BA patients were shorter (median height − 0.6 (interquartile range (IQR) − 1.3 to − 0.1) SDS, n = 28, P < 0.001) than general population. Height remained stable during early childhood (median height − 0.6 (IQR − 1.4 to 0.1) SDS for girls and − 0.4 (IQR − 1.6 to 0.2) SDS for boys at 6 years of age). Patients were of normal height adjusted weight at 6 years with a median age and sex-adjusted body mass index (ISO-BMI) of 20.9 (IQR 19.3 to 25.0) for girls and 22.1 (IQR 20.7 to 25.6) for boys. Higher (≥ 50 mg/kg) cumulative post-portoenterostomy prednisolone dosage resulted in 0.18 SDS lower height per treatment week (β − 0.18, SE 0.04, P < 0.001) compared to lower dosage (< 50 mg/kg). Conclusion: BA patients grow normally during early childhood. As high postoperative corticosteroid dosage has a short-term negative effect on height, very high dosages should be avoided.