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Attention and executive functioning deficits in liver-transplanted children

Tanja Kaller1, Nadine Langguth, Rainer Ganschow

  • 1Institute of Medical Psychology, University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. t.kaller@uke.uni-hamburg.de

Transplantation
|January 4, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric liver transplant recipients often experience attention and executive function deficits, impacting cognitive abilities. Early developmental screening is crucial for these children to address potential issues.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology
  • Neurodevelopmental pediatrics
  • Transplant medicine

Background:

  • Liver transplantation in children is associated with an elevated risk of developmental challenges.
  • Understanding the specific cognitive deficits post-transplantation is essential for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate attention and executive functioning in pediatric liver transplant recipients.
  • To explore the relationship between cognitive performance, intelligence, and disease-related variables.

Main Methods:

  • A monocentric, cross-sectional study involving 137 children (mean age at transplantation 3.4 years, current age 10.2 years).
  • Assessment of attention and executive functioning using the Test of Attentional Performance (TAP) and its pediatric version (KITAP).
  • Evaluation of intelligence using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III) and Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (KABC).

Main Results:

  • Children generally scored in the lower normal range on most TAP/KITAP subscales, with significantly below-average reaction times, errors, and omissions.
  • Notable deficits were observed in sustained attention (47%) and working memory (38%).
  • Performance on attention and executive function tasks correlated significantly with intelligence scores, with slower reaction times linked to lower IQ. Disease duration, age at transplantation, type of donation, and sex influenced reaction times.

Conclusions:

  • Liver-transplanted children are at risk for developmental deficits in attention and executive functioning, particularly in intrinsic alertness and working memory.
  • These deficits may impair the initiation, sustenance, and control of actions.
  • Comprehensive developmental screening is recommended early after pediatric liver transplantation.
Abstract

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