Motor delays remain post-liver transplant in children

Children who undergo liver transplantation are at risk of motor delays both before and after liver transplant (LT), according to a study. The severity of liver disease and growth delays may impact motor development.

In this retrospective review, 33 children <6 years old with cholestatic liver disease, including diagnoses of biliary atresia (70%), Alagille syndrome (21%), and others (9%), were assessed before and 1 year following post-isolated LT.

There was a risk of motor delay in >75% of children pre-LT, while post-LT, 52% of children scored ≥1 SD below the mean gross motor quotient (GMQ) compared with 22% fine motor quotient (FMQ).

There was an increased risk of motor delay on GMQ post-LT in patients who were delayed or at-risk pre-LT.

Longer time on the waitlist correlated with lower FMQ post-LT.

GMQ post-LT and height z-scores pre-LT and post-LT were positively correlated.

The authors said the results of this study highlight the need for ongoing rehabilitation before and after LT.

Reference
Patterson C, So S, Rogers A, Ng VL. Motor outcomes in young children pre-and one-year post-liver transplant. Pediatr Transplant. 2021;e14200. doi: 10.1111/petr.14200. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34874102.