Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Assiut University Hospital,
Assiut, Egypt | Department of Pediatric, Assiut University Hospital,
Assiut, Egypt | Department of Biochemistry, Assiut University
Hospital, Assiut, Egypt
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Ghaydaa A. Shehata, Assiut University
Hospital, Assiut, Egypt. Tel.: +2 88 2297075; Fax: +2 88 2333327; E-mail:
ghaydaa83@yahoo.com
Abstract: Over the years, several reports have demonstrated the involvement of
the nervous system in patients with beta-thalassemia. In most cases,
neurological involvement does not initially present with relevant signs or
symptoms (i.e., subclinical). This study was designed to assess P300 and
cognitive function in a group of children, who were neurologically asymptomatic
children with beta-thalassemia. Thirty children with beta-thalassemia were
selected from the pediatric department, hematology unit at Assiut university
hospital. Another 40 apparently healthy children of the same age, sex, body
mass index and social state were chosen as control. Assessment of clinical,
laboratory, cognitive functions using Stanford Binet and event related
potential were done. The mean age of children was 9.97 ± 3.24 years; the
mean duration of illness was 8.53 ± 3.44 years. We reported significant
impairment in cognitive functions compared with control group. Also significant
prolongation in P200, N2 and P300 latencies, while significant decreased in
P300-N2 amplitude was reported. Splenectomy and infrequent blood transfusion
act as additional factors for cognitive impairment. Children with
beta-thalassemia have subclinical involvement of the central neural pathway.
Cognitive function and event related potentials should be done as early as
possible for early detection of neural pathway impairment.
Keywords: Beta-thalassemia, cognitive functions, event related potentials
