In this study malnutrition frequency of cirrhotic children and effectiveness of nutritionel support on clinical and laboratory data were studied in 60 cirrhotic children prospectively. Nutritional status was evaluated by biochemical techniques and anthropometric measurements [weight, height, triceps skin fold thickness (TST), mid-arm circumference (MAC), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), surface of middle arm muscle (SMAM)] according to Waterlov criteria. Severity of illness was determined according to Child- Pough classification. Malnutrition was determined in 40 patients (66.6%). The nutritional support was achieved by both natural foods and enteral products, which contained 35% of daily caloric requirement, and then 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month anthropometric measurements were performed. Thirteen patients not given nutritional support were included as controls. Beginning anthropometric measurements and Child classification distribution of both groups were similar. According to variant analysis, weight and height, TST, MAC, MAMC and SMAM were significantly different at the 2nd, 3rd, 12th and 6th months, respectively. But in the control group; TTS, MAC and MAM measurements were found significantly different after the six month. Malnutrition frequency in cirrhotic patients, especially chronic type, is high. Nutritional support contributes to the life quality and growth.

Keywords: siroz, beslenme, antropometrik ölçümler, cirrhosis, nutrition, anthropometric measurements