Risk factors and clinical profiles in Turkish children with cerebral palsy: analysis of 625 cases

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate risk factors, clinical profiles and gross motor function levels of Turkish children with cerebral palsy (CP). A total of 625 consecutive children with CP, who were rehabilitated in the pediatrics rehabilitation clinic between 2000 and 2004 years, were included. Factors causing CP were investigated by interviewing the families and by scanning medical files. Risk factors were recorded as consanguineous marriage, maternal disorder, preterm birth, birth asphyxia, low birth weight, multiple pregnancy, neonatal convulsion, kernicterus, postnatal central nervous system infection and brain injury. Swedish classification was followed in CP typing. Of 625 children with CP, 370 (59.2%) were males and 255 (40.8%) were females, with ages ranging between 2 and 13 years (the mean age was 5.11+/-2.19 years). It was determined that 47.8% of the cases were spastic diplegic CP, 27.7% were spastic tetraplegic CP, 12.8% spastic hemiplegic CP and 11.7% were other types (ataxic, dyskinetic and mixed CP types). The most frequently encountered risk factors were low birth weight (45.1%), preterm birth (40.5%), birth asphyxia (34.6%) and consanguineous marriage (23.8%). Low birth weight, preterm birth, birth asphyxia and consanguineous marriage were top-ranked risk factors that were determined in Turkish children with CP. Compared with other countries, consanguineous marriage is still an important problem in Turkey.

Association of cerebral palsy with consanguineous parents and other risk factors in a Palestinian population

“…The results of the study showed that 47.7% of cases versus 24.2% of controls were from consanguineous parents (1st or 2nd cousins) and this was an important variable remaining in the regression model (OR = 4.62; 95% CI: 2.07-10.3). In other published research consanguinity was also found to be among the top risk factors (8). The results of our study provides some evidence of a genetic etiology for cerebral palsy.…”

“…A study in Palestine found higher reading disabilities in children with consanguineous parents (6,11). However, other risk factors of importance for cerebral palsy in the region have been suggested, such as hypoxia, low birth weight, jaundice and preterm birth (8,12).…”

“…Despite this, studies into consanguinity and health in the region are limited. A study of Turkish children with cerebral palsy found consanguinity to be a top risk factor (8). This association of consanguinity with complex disorders such as cerebral palsy is new and the results are ambiguous (9).…”

Demographic and Clinical Findings of Cerebral Palsy Patients in Istanbul: A Multicenter Study

“…Serdaroglu et al (4) reported that the most common spastic subtype in their sample was diplegia (39.8%), followed by hemiplegia (28.0%). A study conducted in Ankara by Erkin et al (5) found that hemiplegia was the third most common subtype of spasticity, with a proportion of 12.8% of patients. However, a Swedish study conducted by Hagberg (12) found that 44% of 241 patients with CP were diplegic and 33% was hemiplegic.…”

“…The prevalence of CP was determined as 4.4 per 1000 live births in Turkey (4,5). Istanbul is home to 17% of the Turkish population and is the largest city in Turkey (12,915,158 people in 2009) (6).…”