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Body shape in young children with homozygous sickle cell disease
Insights
Children with sickle cell disease (SS) show reduced growth and altered body shape before age six. These early changes in anthropometric measurements indicate significant developmental impacts of homozygous sickle cell disease in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
- Anthropometry
Background:
- Sickle cell disease (SS) is a genetic blood disorder affecting red blood cells.
- Growth patterns and body composition can be altered in chronic childhood diseases.
- Early identification of growth deviations is crucial for managing pediatric conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare body shape and anthropometric measurements in children with homozygous sickle cell disease (SS) versus normal hemoglobin (AA) genotype.
- To determine if the effects of sickle cell disease on growth are evident before age six.
- To investigate early changes in body shape related to sickle cell disease.
Main Methods:
- Anthropometric measurements were taken from 64 children with SS disease and 123 children with AA genotype.
- Participants were children aged 4 to 6 years.
- Detailed measurements included weight, height, limb length, chest diameters, and skinfold thickness.
Main Results:
- Children with SS disease exhibited reduced weight, height, sitting height, limb length, and skinfold thickness compared to controls.
- SS disease group showed increased anteroposterior chest diameter and an elevated anteroposterior-lateral chest diameter ratio.
- These anthropometric differences indicate significant growth alterations in young children with sickle cell disease.
Conclusions:
- Homozygous sickle cell disease (SS) impacts growth patterns and body shape in children as early as 4 to 6 years of age.
- The observed changes in anthropometry precede those typically seen in adolescence and adulthood.
- Early detection of these growth deviations is critical for understanding the long-term effects of sickle cell disease.
Abstract:
Body shape, defined by detailed anthropometric measurement, was compared in 64 children with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease, and in 123 children with a normal hemoglobin (AA) genotype, aged 4 to 6 years. Children with homozygous sickle cell disease showed an average reduction in weight, height, sitting height, limb length, interacromial and intercristal diameters, and skinfold thickness. They showed increased anteroposterior chest diameters with an increased anteroposterior-lateral chest diameter ratio. This report establishes that the effect of homozygous sickle cell disease on growth patterns in childhood is apparent before the age of 6 years. The relationship to changes in body shape, seen during adolescence and in affected adults, and their possible determinants, are discussed.