title: Focal neurological deficits in children with beta-thalassemia major.
abstract: The hematologic disorder beta-thalassemia major is relatively common in Southern Italy. Stroke is a well described, though infrequently reported, complication of this disorder. We now report our experience regarding 300 children with beta-thalassemia major examined at the University of Catania, Italy, over a 20-year period. We encountered 9 patients (3%; 3 males, 6 females) with beta-thalassemia major who had hemorrhagic stroke. Two groups of patients can be identified: group 1 (2 patients 22%) with early-onset post-transfusion hemorrhage and group 2 (7 patients 77%) with delayed post-transfusion hemorrhage. In the first group, the hemorrhage occurred within 48 hours following blood transfusion. In the second group, hemorrhage occurred 7-15 days from last transfusion. In 5 patients out of 7 of this second group the first transfusion and ictal event both occurred after age five, suggesting prolonged chronic anemia might play a role in the hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Incorpora
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Gregorio
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Trifiletti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Parano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis