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Burden of neurological and neurocognitive impairment in pediatric sickle cell anemia in Uganda (BRAIN SAFE): a cross-sectional study.
- Source :
- BMC Pediatrics; 10/25/2019, Vol. 19 Issue 1, p1-11, 11p, 1 Diagram, 3 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) are highly susceptible to stroke and other manifestations of pediatric cerebral vasculopathy. Detailed evaluations in sub-Saharan Africa are limited.<bold>Methods: </bold>We aimed to establish the frequency and types of pediatric brain injury in a cross-sectional study at a large SCA clinic in Kampala, Uganda in a randomly selected sample of 265 patients with HbSS ages 1-12 years. Brain injury was defined as one or more abnormality on standardized testing: neurocognitive impairment using an age-appropriate test battery, prior stroke by examination or transcranial Doppler (TCD) velocities associated with stroke risk in children with SCA (cerebral arterial time averaged mean maximum velocity ≥ 170 cm/second).<bold>Results: </bold>Mean age was 5.5 ± 2.9 years; 52.3% were male. Mean hemoglobin was 7.3 ± 1.01 g/dl; 76.4% had hemoglobin < 8.0 g/dl. Using established international standards, 14.7% were malnourished, and was more common in children ages 5-12. Overall, 57 (21.5%) subjects had one to three abnormal primary testing. Neurocognitive dysfunction was found in 27, while prior stroke was detected in 15 (5.7%). The most frequent abnormality was elevated TCD velocity 43 (18.1%), of which five (2.1%) were in the highest velocity range of abnormal. Only impaired neurocognitive dysfunction increased with age (OR 1.44, 95%CI 1.23-1.68), p < 0.001). In univariate models, malnutrition defined as wasting (weight-for-height ≤ -2SD), but not sex or hemoglobin, was modestly related to elevated TCD (OR 1.37, 95%CI 1.01-1.86, p = 0.04). In adjusted models, neurocognitive dysfunction was strongly related to prior stroke (OR 6.88, 95%CI 1.95-24.3, p = .003) and to abnormal TCD (OR 4.37, 95%CI 1.30, p = 0.02). In a subset of 81 subjects who were enriched for other abnormal results, magnetic resonance imaging and angiography (MRI/MRA) detected infarcts and/or arterial stenosis in 52%. Thirteen subjects (25%) with abnormal imaging had no other abnormalities detected.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>The high frequency of neurocognitive impairment or other abnormal results describes a large burden of pediatric SCA brain disease in Uganda. Evaluation by any single modality would have underestimated the impact of SCA. Testing the impact of hydroxyurea or other available disease-modifying interventions for reducing or preventing SCA brain effects is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- TRANSCRANIAL Doppler ultrasonography
SICKLE cell anemia
COGNITIVE testing
MAGNETIC resonance angiography
CROSS-sectional method
BRAIN diseases
DISABILITIES
RESEARCH
STROKE
RESEARCH methodology
EVALUATION research
MEDICAL cooperation
COMPARATIVE studies
RESEARCH funding
ECONOMIC aspects of diseases
DISEASE complications
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14712431
- Volume :
- 19
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- BMC Pediatrics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 139313913
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-019-1758-2