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

Background/introductionWhile 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 methodsRetrospective 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).ResultsHalf 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.ConclusionAcetazolamide 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.