RESUMEN
Over the years, several reports have demonstrated involvement of the nervous system in beta- thalassemic patients. Neurological complications have been attributed to various factors such as chronic hypoxia, bone marrow expansion, iron overload, and desferrioxamine neurotoxicity. In most cases, neurological involvement is subclinical and can only be detected during neurophysiological evaluation. About 80% of thalassemic children had psychosocial problems. To Assess the psychoneurological and intellectual function in patients with Beta-Thalassemia in Ismailia City. 26 [3 thalassemic major children attending the outpatient hematological pediatric clinic of Suez Canal university hospital. A group of 26 normal children, matched for age and gender were included as a control group. Assessment included history taking; psychosocial assessment was done by asking the parent to fill Child Behavior Checklist, Anxiety scale for children, Child Depression Inventory. Patients underwent neurophysiologic evaluation consisting of brainstem auditory, visual and somatosensory evoked potential examination [BAEP, VEP, SEP] as well as motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity studies [MCV, SCV]. Additionally, the verbal, performance and total IQ were assessed using the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children [WISC- III]. The incidence of abnormal BAEP, VEP, SEP and NCVs was 0, 7.7, 3.84 and 30.76%, respectively. The prevalence of abnormal total IQ score was considerably high [38.46%], not correlating, however, to any of the parameters assessed [age, sex, ferritin level, BAEP, VEP, SEP, NCV]