Affiliation:
1. Pediatric Hematology and BMT Unit Department of Pediatrics Kasr Al‐Aini Hospital Cairo University Cairo Egypt
2. Radiology Department Pediatric Unit Kasr Al‐Aini Hospital Cairo University Cairo Egypt
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundGrowth failure is commonly encountered in sickle cell disease (SCD). Tissue compartment growth and development are subsequently likely to be altered in such patients.ObjectiveWe aimed to analyze body composition in an Egyptian pediatric SCD cohort using dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA), one of the most comprehensive and noninvasive assessment methods available.MethodsForty children with SCD ≤18 years and 40 healthy youngsters age‐ and gender‐matched were enrolled. Patients’ demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were obtained from their archived files. All patients and controls were subjected to body composition assessment using a MedixDR—Whole Body DEXA System.ResultsIn SCD patients; weight and height relative to age Z scores were significantly lower (p < .001), total body lean was significantly higher (p = .006), and total body fat percentage was lower, yet the difference was not statistically significant (p = .09). There were no statistically significant variations in bone mineral density or content, basal metabolic rate, subcutaneous adipose tissue, android/gynoid fat ratio, and visceral adipose tissue. There were no significant gender disparities between SCD patients and controls.ConclusionFaltering growth in children with SCD should be addressed with a multidisciplinary approach including nutritional support, correction of anemia, and proper medical care. Body composition parameters assessed using DEXA were comparable between cases and controls apart from total body lean. Further clinical studies are needed with multicenter cooperation and a larger sample size to assess the usefulness of DEXA as an assessment tool for body composition in children with SCD.