Prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia: A hospital-based cross-sectional study
Background: Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of Peripheral Neuropathy (using nerve conduction studies (NCS)) in children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia aged between 5 to 18 years and to study its correlation with chronic anemia, ferritin levels, chelation status, annual transfusio...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_289_24 |
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| Summary: | Background:
Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of Peripheral Neuropathy (using nerve conduction studies (NCS)) in children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia aged between 5 to 18 years and to study its correlation with chronic anemia, ferritin levels, chelation status, annual transfusion requirement, deficiency of serum Vitamin B12, and Folate levels.
Methods:
In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, 100 eligible children were enrolled in a tertiary care teaching hospital in New Delhi, India. Neurological examinations focusing on peripheral neuropathy followed by NCS were performed on all the patients. Age-wise cutoff values outside of 2.5 SD of normal were taken as abnormal.
Results:
None of the children had clinical features of peripheral neuropathy, although 77% had abnormalities in NCS. Of these, 33% had pure motor nerve changes, 7% had pure sensory nerve changes, 1% had abnormal F responses, and 26% had mixed nerve changes. These changes correlated significantly with chronic anemia and duration of iron chelation but not with other factors.
Conclusion:
In children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia who do not exhibit any neurological signs or symptoms, however, it is not uncommon to observe abnormal NCS at an average hemoglobin (Hb) level of less than 9.5 g/dl. Further comprehensive case-control studies are necessary to determine if a more specific Hb target range of 9.5 to 10.5 g/dl is appropriate and to investigate the potential impact of chelation therapy on these changes. |
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| ISSN: | 2249-4863 2278-7135 |