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

## TL;DR

This study finds that acetazolamide, a medication used to treat pseudotumor cerebri in children, may temporarily suppress growth in some patients.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence on the potential growth-suppressing effects of acetazolamide in children with pseudotumor cerebri syndrome.

## Key findings

- Sixty-three percent of children experienced a decrease in height Z-scores during acetazolamide treatment.
- Half of the children showed a decline in BMI Z-scores during treatment.
- Some children partially recovered height Z-scores after stopping acetazolamide.

## Abstract

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.

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).

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.

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.