Abstract
To remove the methodologic flaws of studies claiming that sickle cell trait (Hb AS) impairs physical growth and cognitive development, we prospectively investigated 25 matched pairs (50 subjects) of Black children chosen from a cord blood electrophoresis screening program. For each child with Hb AS, an Hb AA child was matched at birth for sex, birth date, birth weight, gestational age, 5′ Apgar score, and socioeconomic status. At ages 3-5 years, each child was evaluated, within one month of his match, by persons “blind” to the hemoglobin genotype. The results are shown below, together with Pα (probability of no difference) and Pβ (probability of missing a true AA-AS difference as large as Δ):
These results, which demonstrate that 3-5 year-old children with sickle cell trait have no deficits in standard measures of growth and development, emphasize the importance of rigorous methodology when clinical groups are assembled and compared.
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Kramer, M., Rooks, Y., Pearson, H. et al. 621 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN WITH SICKLE CELL TRAIT: A MATCHED-PAIR PROSPECTIVE STUDY. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 467 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00626
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00626