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Neurodevelopmental profile in children born to mothers affected by systemic sclerosis
Jessica Galli1, Erika Loi1, Maria Grazia Lazzaroni2
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Insights
Children born to mothers with systemic sclerosis (SSc) show normal development but increased risks for psychological issues and social challenges. Maternal chronic disease may impact offspring
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Developmental Psychology
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting women of childbearing age.
- Long-term outcomes for children born to mothers with SSc are not well understood.
- This study investigates the neurodevelopmental profile of offspring from SSc mothers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the neurodevelopmental outcomes in children of mothers with systemic sclerosis.
- To identify potential cognitive, behavioral, and psychological challenges in this population.
- To understand the impact of maternal SSc on child development.
Main Methods:
- Twenty children (mean age 96 months) born to SSc mothers were evaluated.
- Data collected included clinical history, neurological exams, cognitive function, and adaptive behavior.
- Quality of life, psychological functioning, and behavioral characteristics were also assessed.
Main Results:
- All children demonstrated normal neurological, cognitive, and adaptive functioning, with one case of Autism Spectrum Disorder (5%).
- Significant discrepancies were noted in quality of life perception between parents and children.
- Increased risks were observed for internalizing (10%) and externalizing (15%) behavioral problems, social difficulties (25%), anxiety (28%), depressive disorders (9%), and somatic disturbances (36%).
- Emotional fragility was prevalent in 70% of assessed children.
Conclusions:
- Children of women with SSc generally have normal cognitive and adaptive skills.
- There is a notable vulnerability to psychopathological issues and social functioning deficits.
- Maternal chronic disease may influence offspring's social and emotional development, potentially due to the child's need to mature and accept the condition.
Background:
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic immune-mediated connective tissue disease that can affect women of childbearing age. The long-term outcomes of their offspring remain poorly explored. Aim of this study was to detail the neurodevelopmental profile of children born to SSc mothers.
Methods:
Twenty children (mean age: 96 ± 4.32 months; 10 males) born to SSc mothers were enrolled. We collected data on clinical history, neurological examination, cognitive profile and adaptive behavior in all subjects. According to the chronological age, we also investigated quality of life, behavioral characteristics, psychological functioning and self-image.
Results:
All the children had normal neurological examination, cognitive profile and adaptive functioning, except for one (5 %) who suffered from Autism Spectrum Disorder. An important discrepancy was observed between parental and child opinion regarding the perception of quality of life, more compromised in the latter. We documented a risk for internalizing behavioral problems in 2 cases (10 %), for externalizing problems in 3 (15 %), for both in 1 (5 %) and for social and out-of-school activities in 5 (25 %). As regards psychological functioning, evaluated in 11 children, three (28 %) were at risk for anxiety, 1 (9 %) for depressive disorders and other 4 (36 %) for somatic disturbances. Emotional fragility and poor competence in metabolizing one's emotional experiences were observed in 9 out of the 13 subjects assessed (70 %).
Conclusions:
Children born to SSc women exhibit normal cognitive and adaptive abilities but an increased vulnerability to psychopathological problems and fragility in social functioning. These observations might reflect that children need to feel mature to accept maternal chronic disease that, in turn, may hinder support for offspring's social and emotional development.
