Clinical Pediatrics: Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2572-0775
ISSN: 2572-0775
Nayera Elmorsi Hassan, Hoda Y Tomouma and Khadija M Alian
National Research Centre, Egypt
Ain Shams University, Egypt
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Clin Pediatr
Introduction: Studies have shown that feeding difficulties are the main cause of growth failure in children with Cerebral
palsy(CP). The increase in weight and body fat stores seen in previous studies on patients with severe feeding difficulties as a
result of tube feeding, reflects the great contribution of enteralintake to the growth and nutritional status of CP patients.
Aim: This study was undertaken to describe nutritional status and body composition parameters and assess serum levels of
leptin and other biochemical markers of the nutritional status in a sample of Egyptian children with cerebral palsy(CP).
Methods: Anthropometric measurements (body weight, knee height, head, mid-upper arm,waist and hip circumferences,
triceps and subscapular skin-fold thickness) were taken. Using the bioelectrical impedance technique, total body water(TBW),
fat-free mass, fat mass, fat percentage and basal metabolicrate(BMR) were calculated. Serum levels of total proteins, albumin,
ferritin and leptin were measured. Results were compared to that of healthy controls.
Results: Patients had significantly lower anthropometric measurements than controls, except for mid-upperarm and hip
circumferences, and subscapular skin-fold thickness which were not different in both groups. Fat mass,fat free mass,fat
percentage, TBWand BMR were lower in the patients. Serum protein and leptin levels were not different in patients and
controls,though other biochemical markers were reduced in the patients. Patients with more sever motor handicap had lower
skin-fold thickness, fat percentage and serum ferritin than those with milder affection.
Conclusion: Parameters of growth, body composition analysis and nutritional status are significantly altered in CP patients
especially those with severe motor handicap and oromotor dysfunction.
E-mail: nayera_elmorsi2002@yahoo.com