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Cortical Thickness Associated with the Degree of Anemia in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
Ramana V Vishnubhotla1, Jonathan A Class1, Tyler A Porter2
1From the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences (R.V.V., J.A.C., R.R.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Insights
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is linked to brain structure changes. Higher hemoglobin levels in children with SCD correlate with increased cortical thickness, suggesting a protective effect.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
Background:
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common inherited blood disorder causing organ damage.
- Silent cerebral infarcts (SCI) are frequent brain abnormalities in pediatric SCD patients.
- Brain morphometry alterations are increasingly recognized in SCD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of SCI on brain morphometry in children with SCD.
- To assess the relationship between hemoglobin levels and brain morphometry in pediatric SCD patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of T1-weighted brain MRI scans from pediatric SCD patients and controls.
- Morphometric analysis included gray matter volume, white matter volume, surface area, thickness, and gyrification index.
- Linear regression models were used to assess associations, controlling for age, sex, and race.
Main Results:
- SCD was associated with reduced gray matter volume and surface area in specific frontal and insular regions.
- Children with SCD and SCI showed significant differences in brain morphometry compared to controls.
- Hemoglobin levels positively correlated with increased cortical thickness in the left superior temporal gyrus and overall cerebral hemispheres in SCD patients.
Conclusions:
- Hemoglobin levels are associated with cerebral cortical thickness in children with SCD.
- These findings highlight the complex relationship between SCD, hemoglobin levels, and brain development.
Background And Purpose:
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited hemoglobinopathy that can cause multiorgan injury due to anemia, sickling, vaso-occlusive injury, and vasculopathy. Silent cerebral infarct (SCI) is a common imaging abnormality identified in the brain in SCD. In this study, we assessed the impact of SCI and hemoglobin levels on brain morphometry in children with SCD.
Materials And Methods:
This retrospective study included pediatric patients with SCD and a control sample of children without SCD. Morphometric analysis was performed on T1-weighted brain MR images. Morphometric measures include cortical regional gray matter volume, white matter volume, surface area, thickness, and the gyrification index. The associations of SCD and SCI with morphometric measurements were tested using a linear regression model accounting for age, sex, and race. Additionally, in children with SCD, the association of hemoglobin levels on morphometric measurements was assessed using a linear regression model.
Results:
There were 76 subjects including 43 with SCD and 33 controls. Of those with SCD, 20 had SCI. SCD was significantly associated with lower cortical GM volume in the left rostral middle frontal gyrus (P < .001) and lower surface area in the rostral middle frontal gyrus (P < .001), left frontal pole (P < .001), and right insula (P = .002). In children with SCD, hemoglobin levels were positively associated with increased mean cortical thickness in the left superior temporal gyrus (P < .001) and both left and right cerebral hemispheres (P = .002).
Conclusions:
Hemoglobin levels were associated with cerebral cortical thickness in children with SCD.
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