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The effects of non-nutritional factors on growth in cerebral palsy
R D Stevenson1, C D Roberts, L Vogtle
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Insights
Non-nutritional factors significantly impact growth in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Even without malnutrition, affected limbs in children with CP show smaller measurements compared to unaffected limbs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Human Growth and Development
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a complex neurological disorder affecting movement and posture.
- Growth disturbances are common in children with CP, often attributed to nutritional deficits.
- The independent role of non-nutritional factors in CP-related growth alterations requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and evaluate the impact of non-nutritional factors on the anthropometric measurements of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
- To compare growth parameters between the affected and unaffected sides of the body in children with CP.
Main Methods:
- Anthropometric measurements were taken on both affected and unaffected sides of 20 children with hemiplegic CP.
- Participants had normal stature and triceps skinfold measurements, controlling for general malnutrition.
- Sixteen distinct anthropometric measures, including breadth, length, circumference, and skinfold thickness, were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Significant reductions in breadth, circumference, and length were observed on the affected side compared to the unaffected side.
- Skinfold measurements showed a trend towards being larger on the affected side.
- These findings indicate asymmetry in growth related to the hemiplegic condition.
Conclusions:
- Non-nutritional factors, intrinsically linked to the severity of cerebral palsy, exert a significant influence on child growth.
- Disease-related factors, rather than solely nutritional status, contribute to observed growth disparities in children with CP.
- The study highlights the importance of considering disease-specific non-nutritional influences on growth in pediatric populations with CP.
Abstract:
This study was designed to evaluate the effects of non-nutritional factors alone on the growth of children with cerebral palsy (CP). 20 children with hemiplegic CP, normal stature and normal triceps skinfold measurements had 16 different anthropometric measures performed on each side of the body (affected vs unaffected). All measures of breadth, circumference and length were significantly smaller on the affected side compared with the unaffected side. Skinfold measurements had a tendency to be larger on the affected side. These results suggest that non-nutritional factors related to disease severity have a significant influence on the growth of children with CP, even in the absence of malnutrition.