Factors related to changes in cognitive, educational and visual motor integration in children who undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplant

Abstract

Objectives: Investigate cognitive, educational, and perceptual motor skills up to 2 years posttransplant of pediatric hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation (HPCT) survivors and their correlates.

Methods: Survivors were assessed at baseline, 12, and 24 months after transplant.

Results: Performance IQ improved over time and was negatively related to maternal depression. Full IQ and educational outcomes were positively related to child's age and mother's age. Low depression scores were associated with high Verbal IQ one and 2 years post-HPCT, and with high visual motor scores 2 years post-HPCT. Poor educational outcomes were related to increased time since diagnosis. Two years post-HPCT, Performance IQ and Processing Speed were above the norm values whereas arithmetic and motor scores were below.

Conclusions: Pediatric HPCT survivors do better cognitively than educationally. Maternal age and depression, child's age, and time since diagnosis are critical factors for these outcomes.