title: An exploratory study of physiological correlates of neurodevelopmental delay in infants with sickle cell anaemia.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate whether infants with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) are at risk of neurodevelopmental delay, and whether any delay is associated with SCA pathology. Twenty-eight infants (14 SCA; 14 age- and ethnic-similar controls) were assessed longitudinally with the Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener (BINS) at 3, 9 and 12 months. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and pulse oximetry (SpO2) measures were recorded longitudinally in SCA infants, and a subgroup of controls. Haemoglobin values were obtained from SCA infants. At each age, SCA infants obtained BINS scores indicative of greater risk of neurodevelopmental delay compared with controls. The number of moderate-high BINS risk scores increased significantly between 3 and 9 months. At 9 months BINS raw scores correlated negatively with TCD velocity and positively with haemoglobin. This exploratory study suggests that SCA infants may be at greater risk of neurodevelopmental delay than previously considered, and may provide the impetus for further research into the very early precursors of cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK. a.hogan@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alexandra M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hogan
authors.forename: Fenella J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Kirkham
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prengler
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Telfer
authors.forename: Roderick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Faraneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vargha-Khadem
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haan
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D001724:Birth Weight; D002657:Child Development; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D010100:Oxygen