Behavior Problems and Cognitive Function in Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Transplant Surgery
• Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Background:

• Liver transplantation (LT) is a critical intervention with excellent outcomes.
• Data on behavioral and cognitive outcomes post-LT in Asian pediatric populations are limited.
• This study addresses the gap by investigating these issues in pediatric LT recipients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of behavioral and cognitive problems in children after liver transplantation.
• To identify factors associated with these post-transplant issues.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for behavioral assessment.
• Employed the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition (WISC-III) for cognitive evaluation.
• Included 77 pediatric LT recipients (ages 2-18) with at least 2 years post-transplant.

Main Results:

• 34% of children exhibited significant behavior problems (CBCL).
• 29% of school-aged children had abnormal competence scores.
• 65% of assessed children had normal full-scale IQ; lower IQ linked to single-parent status.
• Higher behavior problems correlated with lower parental education and longer post-transplant duration.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of pediatric LT recipients face behavioral challenges.
• Cognitive function is generally normal, but requires further validation with larger cohorts.
• Long-term support strategies should target children with single parents and lower parental education levels.