Laboratory Biomarkers, Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity, and Intellectual Function in Children with Sickle Cell Disease

Objective. The aim of this preliminary study was to describe putative markers of cerebral vasculopathy and investigate relationships among these markers, demographic factors, and cognitive function in a young sample of neurologically normal children with SCD. Study Design. Thirty-eight children with...

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Main Authors: Nataly Apollonsky, Norma B. Lerner, Fengqing Zhang, Deepti Raybagkar, Jennifer Eng, Reem Tarazi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Advances in Hematology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8181425
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author Nataly Apollonsky
Norma B. Lerner
Fengqing Zhang
Deepti Raybagkar
Jennifer Eng
Reem Tarazi
author_facet Nataly Apollonsky
Norma B. Lerner
Fengqing Zhang
Deepti Raybagkar
Jennifer Eng
Reem Tarazi
author_sort Nataly Apollonsky
collection DOAJ
description Objective. The aim of this preliminary study was to describe putative markers of cerebral vasculopathy and investigate relationships among these markers, demographic factors, and cognitive function in a young sample of neurologically normal children with SCD. Study Design. Thirty-eight children with homozygous HbS, aged 4–11 years, were included. Estimated IQ and markers of coagulation and endothelial activation, hemolysis, and inflammation, as well as transcranial Doppler velocities, hydroxyurea use, and demographic information were obtained. Results. Using multiple regression analyses, there were few significant independent associations between biomarkers or blood flow velocity and estimated IQ. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) independently predicted cognitive function, but blood flow velocity did not mediate this relationship. Maternal education, patient age, and hydroxyurea status were independent predictors of cognition. Given the small sample size, a LASSO statistical model was employed to further identify potential predictors of IQ, which identified LDH, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), platelet count, thrombin-antithrombin (TAT), tissue factor (TF), maternal education, age, and hydroxyurea as potential predictors of cognition. Conclusions. In addition to effects of age and maternal education, some vasculopathic markers are associated with cognitive function in young children with SCD, and these relationships do not appear to be mediated through blood flow velocity. Although the lack of association among certain variables was not as predicted, results provide support for further research regarding the influence of vasculopathic markers on cognitive function in children with SCD without stroke, especially intravascular hemolysis and coagulation/endothelial activation, and a possible role for HU treatment in preventing or reversing cognitive decline.
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spelling doaj-art-0379ff4d3b8b4319a4ecc55c7a5493632025-08-20T02:03:17ZengWileyAdvances in Hematology1687-91041687-91122020-01-01202010.1155/2020/81814258181425Laboratory Biomarkers, Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity, and Intellectual Function in Children with Sickle Cell DiseaseNataly Apollonsky0Norma B. Lerner1Fengqing Zhang2Deepti Raybagkar3Jennifer Eng4Reem Tarazi5Section of Hematology, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USADivision of Blood Diseases and Resources, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USADepartment of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USASection of Hematology, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USASection of Hematology, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USASection of Hematology, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USAObjective. The aim of this preliminary study was to describe putative markers of cerebral vasculopathy and investigate relationships among these markers, demographic factors, and cognitive function in a young sample of neurologically normal children with SCD. Study Design. Thirty-eight children with homozygous HbS, aged 4–11 years, were included. Estimated IQ and markers of coagulation and endothelial activation, hemolysis, and inflammation, as well as transcranial Doppler velocities, hydroxyurea use, and demographic information were obtained. Results. Using multiple regression analyses, there were few significant independent associations between biomarkers or blood flow velocity and estimated IQ. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) independently predicted cognitive function, but blood flow velocity did not mediate this relationship. Maternal education, patient age, and hydroxyurea status were independent predictors of cognition. Given the small sample size, a LASSO statistical model was employed to further identify potential predictors of IQ, which identified LDH, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), platelet count, thrombin-antithrombin (TAT), tissue factor (TF), maternal education, age, and hydroxyurea as potential predictors of cognition. Conclusions. In addition to effects of age and maternal education, some vasculopathic markers are associated with cognitive function in young children with SCD, and these relationships do not appear to be mediated through blood flow velocity. Although the lack of association among certain variables was not as predicted, results provide support for further research regarding the influence of vasculopathic markers on cognitive function in children with SCD without stroke, especially intravascular hemolysis and coagulation/endothelial activation, and a possible role for HU treatment in preventing or reversing cognitive decline.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8181425
spellingShingle Nataly Apollonsky
Norma B. Lerner
Fengqing Zhang
Deepti Raybagkar
Jennifer Eng
Reem Tarazi
Laboratory Biomarkers, Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity, and Intellectual Function in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
Advances in Hematology
title Laboratory Biomarkers, Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity, and Intellectual Function in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
title_full Laboratory Biomarkers, Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity, and Intellectual Function in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
title_fullStr Laboratory Biomarkers, Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity, and Intellectual Function in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
title_full_unstemmed Laboratory Biomarkers, Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity, and Intellectual Function in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
title_short Laboratory Biomarkers, Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity, and Intellectual Function in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
title_sort laboratory biomarkers cerebral blood flow velocity and intellectual function in children with sickle cell disease
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8181425
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