In this study; Changes in appetite, hormones and growth of ventricular septal defect patients treated with non-surgical method were evaluated.

The study included 20 patients whose ventricular septal defect closed percutaneously and 26 children as control group. The symptoms, anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests of patient group were recorded at initial, 1st month and 6th months after closure.

Anthropometric measurements; weight for age (WFA), height for age (HFA), body mass index (BMI) and their z scores, triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were recorded on admission. Patients with weight for height z score less than -2 were defined as malnutrition.

Questions about the symptoms like appetite, weight gain, frequency of illness, rate of breathing, fatigue were asked to all parents at initial. These questionnaires15 and visual analogue scale (for appetite) were repeated at 1st and 6th month visits.

During the initial evaluation, approximately 6 ml of venous blood samples were taken between 9:00-10:00 am after an average of 10 hours fasting. On the same day, IGFBP-3, Ghrelin and leptin,fasting blood glucose, insulin, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein, and albumin were measured.

Anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests were repeated at 1st and 6th month visits.

Inclusion Criteria:

Pediatric patients who underwent transcatheter VSD closure

Exclusion Criteria:

• Chromosomal abnormalities
• Additional systemic disease
• Systemic infections

Pediatric patients who underwent transcatheter VSD closure in our institute and whose growth was followed for 6 months as patient group.

Healthy children without appetite or growth retardation were included in the study as a control group.