AUTHOR=Sheldon Claire A. , Reggie Sara N. , Paley Grace L. , McCormack Shana E. , Liu Grant T. 

TITLE=Effects of acetazolamide on linear growth in children with pseudotumor cerebri syndrome

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Ophthalmology

VOLUME=Volume 2 - 2022

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ophthalmology/articles/10.3389/fopht.2022.1042529

DOI=10.3389/fopht.2022.1042529

ISSN=2674-0826

ABSTRACT=Background/Introduction: While oral acetazolamide is a cornerstone of management of adult and pediatric PTCS, previous studies have suggested that acetazolamide used in children with other conditions may influence growth.

Aims and Methods:  Retrospective chart review involving a single tertiary medical center. Thirty-four children with definite or probable PTCS were identified.  Analysis was restricted to individuals from whom anthropometric data were available before and during acetazolamide treatment (n=22).

Results:  Half of individuals (n=11/22) showed a decline in BMI Z-scores.  Sixty-three percent (n=14/22) showed a decrease in height Z-scores during treatment with acetazolamide; in 6 of these 14 children who had complete data, 3 showed at least a partial recovery of height Z-scores after discontinuation of acetazolamide.  

Conclusion: Acetazolamide may be associated with growth suppression in some children treated for pediatric PTCS.  In some cases, the growth suppression appears to reverse once the acetazolamide is stopped.