Developmental screening in young children with sickle cell disease. Results of a cooperative study.

PURPOSE: The goal of the study was to assess development in young children with sickle cell disease as part of the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease (CSSCD).

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) was administered to children younger than 6 years at 12 participating institutions of the CSSCD. Trained examiners administered tests to 344 children.

RESULTS

Tests were scored as normal in 90.4%, questionable in 6.4%, and abnormal in 1.5%; 1.7% of children were considered untestable. There was no relationship between DDST results and sickle cell genotype. Questionable and abnormal (Q/A) scores were more common in children ages 3-5 years than in younger children (12.6% versus 3.8%; P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Because the DDST is a screening test, it should be interpreted cautiously. However, the more numerous Q/A scores in our "older" group agree with the findings of recent reports of neuropsychological impairment in school-age children with sickle cell disease. Our data suggest that development is relatively normal before age 3 years; deficits seen in older children may reflect subsequent ischemic insults.