Avaliação antropométrica e do metabolismo do cálcio em crianças com microcefalia: um estudo de coorte

Abstract

Introduction: Microcephaly, as defined by the World Health Organization, is characterized by a newborn's head circumference falling below -2 standard deviations from the median. Children diagnosed with microcephaly face heightened risks of motor and endocrine dysfunction, which can lead to complications such as dysphagia, energy-protein malnutrition, and deficiencies in macro- and micronutrients. Objective: This study aims to assess the anthropometric progression and calcium metabolism of children diagnosed with microcephaly, undergoing monitoring at a specialized outpatient clinic in Sergipe, a state in Brazil. Methods: This observational, descriptive study focuses on a cohort of patients diagnosed with microcephaly. Results: The study found varying frequencies of children with microcephaly exhibiting inadequate growth parameters across different follow-up intervals, spanning from the second to the sixth year of life. Weight inadequacy ranged from 12.8% to 32%, height from zero to 12%, and BMI from 19% to 40.9%. Similarly, the frequency of children with microcephaly displaying inadequate serum parameters fluctuated between 17.6% and 50% for calcium, zero to 7.1% for phosphorus, 18.2% to 41.2% for alkaline phosphatase, and 18.2% to 38.9% for vitamin D. Conclusion: The study highlights significant BMI impairment during the observed period. Notably, alkaline phosphatase and 25-OH-vitamin-D were the most frequently altered micronutrients. The absence of consistent and prolonged deficiencies in the evaluated micronutrients underscores the importance of systematic longitudinal monitoring for these patients. The findings emphasize the significance of continuous multidisciplinary follow-up, enabling prompt identification and referral for necessary treatments upon detecting abnormalities in this patient population.