Comparison of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Pediatric Patients with Metabolic Syndrome, Heterozygous Familial Hyperlipidemia and Normals

Abstract EN

Background.

Our goal was to compare the carotid intimal-medial thickness (CIMT) of untreated pediatric patients with metabolic syndrome (MS), heterozygous familial hyperlipidemia (heFH), and MS+heFH against one another and against a control group consisting of healthy, normal body habitus children.

Methods.

Our population consisted of untreated pediatric patients (ages 5–20 yrs) who had CIMT measured in a standardized manner.

Results.

Our population included 57 with MS, 23 with heFH, and 10 with MS+heFH.

The control group consisted of 84 children of the same age range.

Mean CIMT for the MS group was 469.8 μm (SD = 67), 443.8 μm (SD = 61) for the heFH group, 478.3 μm (SD = 70) for the MS+heFH group, and 423.2 μm (SD = 45) for the normal control group.

Significance differences between groups occurred for heFH versus MS ( P = 0.022 ) , heFH versus control ( P = 0.038 ) , MS versus control ( P = 9.0 E - 10 ) , and MS+heFH versus control ( P = 0.003 ) .

Analysis showed significant negative correlation between HDL and CIMT ( r = - 0.32 , P = 0.03 ) but not for LDL, triglycerides, BP, waist circumference, or BMI.

Conclusion.

For pediatric patients, the thickest CIMT occurred for patients with MS alone or for those with MS+heFH.

This indicates that MS, rather than just elevated LDL, accounts for more rapid thickening of CIMT in this population.