Childhood and adolescent growth of patients with sickle cell disease in Aracaju, Sergipe, north-east Brazil

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most prevalent inherited monogenic patholo gy in South America. Although children with SCD have normal birthweight, we ighs deficit is often seen from early childhood. On the other hand, paradox ically, normal final height associated with delayed puberty has been report ed from Brazil and Jamaica. This cross-sectional study describes the growth pattern by age and sex in 76 children and adolescents with SCD in Sergipe, north-east Brazil with a median age of 110 months. Median weights and heig hts for age were below the NCHS standards. The weight and height deficits w ere statistically significant for boys of all ages, except for 7-year-olds. Most girls have median weights and heights below the NCHS standards but th is only becomes statistically significant at 15 years of age. Family channe ls were calculated from the parents' heights. The observed height was lower than the expected percentile value for the family in seven (41%) children, equal to expected family height in six (35%) and above expected family hei ght in four (24%) of 17 teenagers. Our findings suggest that Brazilian chil dren with SCD do not attain normal height and weight. It is therefore likel y that, although maximum height and weight velocity occur significantly lat er than normal due to delayed puberty, the magnitude of this spun is less t han normal.