Growth and Fibrosis in Children With Biliary Atresia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

AIM: To determine growth patterns and catch up potential in children with biliary atresia, in relation to liver disease severity and liver transplantation. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Copenhagen University Hospital between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2024 and included 63 children. Anthropometry and paraclinical liver tests were assessed every 3 months until age 2, and every 6 months thereafter until age 18. Mixed linear models with 95% CI were used to assess anthropometry over time and its association with blood liver markers. Blood test variables were displayed in association with insulin-like growth factor-1. RESULTS: Children with biliary atresia reached their age-specific height-for-age z score after 7-8.5 years and catch-up growth lasted twice as long in those liver transplanted before versus after 2 years of age. Paraclinical liver parameters were shown to be correlated with weight-for-height and height-for-age in biliary children with and without a liver transplant. Results on IGF-1 revealed no association with paraclinical liver tests. CONCLUSIONS: Children with biliary atresia have the potential to catch up in growth with their age-specific height and weight. Paraclinical liver tests are linked to weight-for-height and height-for-age, suggesting liver disease as a contributing factor in the growth of children with biliary atresia.