The influence of interferon-alpha and combination interferon-alpha and lamivudine therapy on height and weight in children with chronic hepatitis B infection.

Author(s): Kuloglu Z, Kansu A, Demirceken F, Arici ZS, Berberoglu M, Ocal G, Girgin N

Affiliation(s): Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. zarifekuloglu@yahoo.com

Publication date & source: 2007-05, J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab., 20(5):615-20.

Publication type:

AIM: To evaluate the height and weight patterns of children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with and without treatment. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with immunoactive CHB randomly assigned to receive interferon-alpha2a (IFN) (5 mIU/m2, 6 months, group I) or IFN (same dose and duration) plus lamivudine (4 mg/kg/day, 24 months) (group II). Fifteen immunotolerant patients (group III) were followed without any treatment. Height (Ht-SDS), weight (Wt-SDS) and growth velocity (GV-SDS) standard deviation scores were monitored for a total of 36 months. RESULTS: Ht-SDS was significantly lower in group II than in group I one year after completion of IFN treatment (p < 0.05). Wt-SDS was significantly higher in group I than the other groups two years after completion of IFN treatment (p < 0.05). In groups I and II, the percentage of children showing abnormal GV-SDS decreased once treatment was completed (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CHB does not have deleterious effects on height and weight. Although IFN treatment temporarily compromises weight gain and growth velocity, lamivudine does not have any additional adverse effect.