Neurocognitive function in patients with β‐thalassemia major

Background: Children with β‐thalassemia major (β‐TM) have multiple risk factors for developing cognitive impairment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate cognitive function in patients with β‐TM. Methods: Twenty children with β‐TM were enrolled into the study and were compared with a control group consisting of 21 healthy children. All participants were evaluated with neuropsychological tests and event‐related potentials (ERP). Results: All of the participants had normal IQ scores, but the patient group had significantly lower full‐scale, performance, and verbal IQs compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The number of children with visuomotor dysfunction was higher in the patient group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In the P300 test, the patient group had significantly prolonged N1, P2 and N2 latencies at the FZ, and a prolonged N1 latency at the Cz compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The patient group also had lower N1 and P3N4 amplitudes at the Fz, and lower N1, N1P2 and P3N4 amplitudes at the Cz when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Mismatch negativity latency and duration were longer in the patient group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Neuropsychological tests are safe, and reliable for the diagnosis of cognitive impairment in β‐TM patients, and the use of ERP may facilitate early diagnosis. The number of β‐TM patients in the present study was limited, however, and larger numbers of patients are required in further studies.