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Impact of chronic hepatitis B and interferon-α therapy on growth of children

  1. L. Comanor1,
  2. J. Minor2,
  3. H. S. Conjeevaram3,
  4. E. A. Roberts4,
  5. F. Alvarez5,
  6. E. M. Bern6,
  7. P. Goyens7,
  8. P. Rosenthal8,
  9. A. Lachaux9,
  10. M. Shelton10,
  11. J. Sarles11,
  12. E. M. Sokal12

Article first published online: 15 DEC 2003

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2001.00262.x

Issue

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

Volume 8, Issue 2, pages 139–147, March 2001

Additional Information

How to Cite

Comanor, L. , Minor, J. , Conjeevaram, H. S. , Roberts, E. A. , Alvarez, F. , Bern, E. M. , Goyens, P. , Rosenthal, P. , Lachaux, A. , Shelton, M. , Sarles, J. and Sokal, E. M. (2001), Impact of chronic hepatitis B and interferon-α therapy on growth of children. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 8: 139–147. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2001.00262.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Clinical Research Consultant, Palo Alto, California

  2. 2

    Clinical Research Consultant, Los Altos, California

  3. 3

    University of Chicago Hospital, Chicago, Illinois

  4. 4

    Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada

  5. 5

    Hôpital St. Justin, Montreal, Canada

  6. 6

    University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts

  7. 7

    Hôpital des Enfants Reine Fabiola, Brussels, Belgium

  8. 8

    University of California, San Francisco, California

  9. 9

    Hopital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France

  10. 10

    Cook Children’s Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas

  11. 11

    Hôpital d’Enfants de la Timone, Marseille, France

  12. 12

    Cliniques St. Luc, Pediatric Hepatology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium

* Lorraine Comanor MD 1801 Waverley Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 DEC 2003
  2. Article first published online: 15 DEC 2003

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Keywords:

  • chronic hepatitis B;
  • growth;
  • HBV DNA;
  • interferon-α therapy;
  • paediatrics

Interferon-α (IFN) has been approved as treatment for children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The aims of this study were to assess the impact on children’s growth of the disease itself and of IFN treatment. The growth of 142 children with CHB (70 IFN-treated, 72 untreated) was monitored for a minimum of one year. Regression analysis models were used to determine which of the variables most affected children’s growth. After adjusting for racial differences, the population of 142 children with CHB had a mean baseline height for age percentile of 39 and a mean baseline weight for age percentile of 38, which were significantly different (P < 0.0001) from the 50th percentiles of their respective reference populations. The height for age Z score of untreated children was inversely correlated with serum hepatitis B virus DNA and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and the weight for age Z score was inversely correlated with serum hepatitis B virus DNA levels. While undergoing IFN therapy, children displayed a ‘U-shaped’ growth pattern, such that height for age and weight for age Z scores at 3 or 6 months were lower than scores at baseline or 12 months. In this study the average child with CHB showed compromised growth even in the absence of IFN therapy. During IFN therapy, children’s growth was temporarily disrupted.

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