The contribution of renal transplantation to final adult height: a report of the North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study (NAPRTCS)

Final adult height following renal transplantation was assessed in 237 recipients enrolled in NAPRTCS before the ages of 11 (girls) and 12 (boys) years and followed for at least 6 months with a functioning graft at or after 18 years of age. The overall change in standardized height (SDS) from baseline to final adult height (FH) was 0.0; however, delta SDS was significantly better for the youngest recipients (6–8 years) than for the older age group. Retarded FH was associated with higher average prednisone dosage and better FH was associated with good graft function. Low baseline SDS was also predictive of retarded FH. Final adult height continues to be suboptimal in the cyclosporine A era. Received: 7 June 2001 / Revised: 5 October 2001 / Accepted: 5 October 2001