Impact of Steroid Therapy on Early Growth in Infants with Biliary Atresia: The Multicenter Steroids in Biliary Atresia Randomized Trial.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:To investigate the impact of corticosteroid therapy on the growth of participants in the Steroids in Biliary Atresia Randomized Trial (START) conducted through the Childhood Liver Disease Research Network. The primary analysis in START indicated that steroids did not have a beneficial effect on drainage in a cohort of infants with biliary atresia. We hypothesized that steroids would have a detrimental effect on growth in these infants. STUDY DESIGN:A total of 140 infants were enrolled in START, with 70 randomized to each treatment arm: steroid and placebo. Length, weight, and head circumference were obtained at baseline and follow-up visits to 24 months of age. RESULTS:Patients treated with steroids had significantly lower length and head circumference z scores during the first 3 months post-hepatoportoenterostomy (HPE), and significantly lower weight until 12 months. Growth trajectories in the steroid and placebo arms differed significantly for length (P?

SUBMITTER: Alonso EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6365098 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature