title: Visuospatial impairment in children and adolescents after liver transplantation.
abstract: A minority of children with liver transplants exhibit significant delay in global intelligence; others have specific learning disabilities. More specific data on neurocognitive strengths and weaknesses are lacking. Eighteen children aged 7-16 yr, who had undergone LTx in Finland participated in the study. They were assessed on an average 7.6 (s.d. 4.5, range 1.0-15.0) years post-operatively at a mean age of 11.8 (s.d. 3.1, range 7.2-16.1). A standardized test of intelligence (WISC-III), a neuropsychological test battery (NEPSY-II), and a parental questionnaire on the child's development (FTF) were administered. The neuropsychological test profile of the LTx group was compared with that of a matched control group of healthy children. The LTx children achieved on an average normal FSIQ 94.0 and VIQ 99.6. Their Performance Intelligence Quotient (PIQ 88.9, p=0.043) was, however, significantly lower than the population mean. On neuropsychological assessment, the LTx children scored generally lower than the control group (p=0.004), a difference significant in sub-tests assessing visuospatial and visuoconstructive functions and social perception. No differences emerged in sub-tests of attention and executive functions, memory and learning, or language functions. LTx children are at increased risk for impairment in the visuospatial domain.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Pediatric Nephrology and Transplantation, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki, Finland. anu.haavisto@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haavisto
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korkman
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Törmänen
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holmberg
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jalanko
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Qvist
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*