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Pupil Size and Reactivity in Pediatric Patients With Sickle Cell Disease

Joana M Mack1,2, Sara Frankowski3,2, Bethany Verkamp4,5

  • 1Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics.

Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
|December 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Pupillometry shows differences in pupil size and reactivity in children with sickle cell disease compared to white children. Further research is needed to use this for objective pain assessment in Black pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatrics
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Objective pain assessment is challenging in pediatric sickle cell disease.
  • Pupillometry offers a potential tool for measuring pain objectively.
  • Normative pupillometry values are needed for diverse pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Establish normative values for pupil size and reactivity in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease.
  • Investigate pupillometry as a tool for objective pain measurement and treatment response assessment.
  • Compare pupillometry findings in Black pediatric patients with existing data.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the NeurOptics PLR-2000 pupillometer for measurements.
  • Studied a cohort of 82 Black pediatric patients (44 males, 38 females) aged 2 to 21.
  • Compared findings with a previously published study on white pediatric participants.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences observed in maximum constriction velocity, maximum pupil size, and minimum pupil size when comparing study participants to white participants.
  • No significant differences in pupil size and reactivity between sickle cell disease patients and Black patients without the disease compared to prior studies.
  • Pupillometry data suggests potential ethnic variations in pupil dynamics.

Conclusions:

  • Pupillometry may reveal ethnic differences in pupil size and reactivity in pediatric populations.
  • Further investigation is warranted in Black pediatric patients with sickle cell disease during vaso-occlusive crisis and well states.
  • Normative pupillometry data is crucial for objective pain assessment in diverse pediatric groups.

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