Valerie A I Natale1, Tim J Cole2, Cynthia Rothblum-Oviatt3, Jennifer Wright4, Thomas O Crawford5, Maureen A Lefton-Greif6, Sharon A McGrath-Morrow7,8, Haley Schlechter8, Howard M Lederman4. 1. Forgotten Diseases Research Foundation, Santa Clara, CA, USA. vnatale@forgottendiseases.org. 2. UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK. 3. A-T Children's Project, Coconut Creek, FL, USA. 4. Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA. 5. Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. 6. Departments of Pediatrics, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. 7. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 8. Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a DNA repair disorder that affects multiple body systems. Neurological problems and immunodeficiency are two important features of this disease. At this time, two main severity groups are defined in A-T: classic (the more severe form) and mild. Poor growth is a common problem in classic A-T. An objective of this study was to develop growth references for classic A-T. Another objective was to compare growth patterns in classic A-T and mild A-T with each other and with the general population, using the CDC growth references. A final objective was to examine the effects of chronic infection on height. RESULTS: We found that classic A-T patients were smaller overall, and suffered from height and weight faltering that continued throughout childhood and adolescence. When compared to the CDC growth references, the median heights and weights for both male and female patients eventually fell to or below the 3rd centile on the CDC charts. Height faltering was more pronounced in females. Birthweight was lower in the classic A-T group compared to mild A-T and the general population, whereas birth length was not. Finally, we investigated height and BMI faltering in relation to number of infections and found no association. CONCLUSIONS: Classic A-T appears to affect growth in utero. Although children appear to grow well in very early life, faltering begins early, and is unrelenting.
BACKGROUND:Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a DNA repair disorder that affects multiple body systems. Neurological problems and immunodeficiency are two important features of this disease. At this time, two main severity groups are defined in A-T: classic (the more severe form) and mild. Poor growth is a common problem in classic A-T. An objective of this study was to develop growth references for classic A-T. Another objective was to compare growth patterns in classic A-T and mild A-T with each other and with the general population, using the CDC growth references. A final objective was to examine the effects of chronic infection on height. RESULTS: We found that classic A-Tpatients were smaller overall, and suffered from height and weight faltering that continued throughout childhood and adolescence. When compared to the CDC growth references, the median heights and weights for both male and female patients eventually fell to or below the 3rd centile on the CDC charts. Height faltering was more pronounced in females. Birthweight was lower in the classic A-T group compared to mild A-T and the general population, whereas birth length was not. Finally, we investigated height and BMI faltering in relation to number of infections and found no association. CONCLUSIONS:Classic A-T appears to affect growth in utero. Although children appear to grow well in very early life, faltering begins early, and is unrelenting.
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Authors: Valerie A I Natale; Tim J Cole; Cynthia Rothblum-Oviatt; Jennifer Wright; Thomas O Crawford; Maureen A Lefton-Greif; Sharon A McGrath-Morrow; Haley Schlechter; Howard M Lederman Journal: Orphanet J Rare Dis Date: 2021-06-01 Impact factor: 4.123