DISPROPORTIONATE HEAD GROWTH-RETARDATION IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Monthly increments of length, weight gain, and head circumference were recorded from birth to 4 years of age in 52 children with cystic fibr osis. At birth the children showed stunting. Standard deviation (SD) s cores at birth for height, weight, and head circumference were -1.24, -0.72, and -1.82 respectively. Over the first four years, length and w eight SD scores showed a consistent improvement. However, there was ve ry limited improvement in head circumference, which stabilised 1 SD be low the mean from 1.5 years to 4 years. Our data suggest that head gro wth lags behind gain in height and weight in children with cystic fibr osis despite good nutritional management in early infancy. The data ma y also support the expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conduct ance regulator in choroid plexus and ependyma.