Growth Failure in Hereditary Spherocytosis and the Effect of Splenectomy.

OBJECTIVE To analyze growth-failure and improvement, if any, following splenectomy in children with hereditary spherocytosis. METHODS Data collection from case-records (n=82) over 27-years (1985-2011). RESULTS Prevalence of stunting was 26%; 32% were underweight. Stunted children were older in age (P=0.006) and presented late (P=0.003). Splenectomy (n=26) improved anemia (P<0.001). However, height-for-age did not improve at 1-year, or 4.5-years (median) following splenectomy (P=1.0). Number of underweight children did not reduce at 1- (P=0.21), or 4.5-years (P=0.21) following surgery. CONCLUSION Growth-failure is frequent in children with hereditary spherocytosis in India. Splenectomy corrected the anemia but failed to improve the growth.