[New markers of atherogenic risk: hemorrheological profile in children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolemia].
OBJECTIVE
Recent studies in adults have shown that hemorrheological alterations are predictive of early cardiovascular disease, but it is unknown if they are related to hyperlipemia or are secondary to an established atherosclerotic process and if they appear during childhood.


METHODS
Several rheological parameters have been studied in 36 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). These patients were between 2 and 16 years of age and 12 of them were being treated with cholestyramine. Thirty-five controls (CG) were individually matched for age and sex.


RESULTS
The FH patients treated with cholestyramine did not show significant differences in any of the six rheological parameters that were studied when compared to the other patients. Therefore, the results of the FH group were analyzed as a whole when they were compared with the CG. The following significant differences were found: Index of erythrocyte aggregation at stasis 5.0 +/- 1.2 vs 3.6 +/- 1.0 (p < 0.001), index of erythrocyte aggregation at low rate of blood shears 8.1 +/- 1.7 vs 6.9 +/- 1.4 (p < 0.001) and plasma viscosity 1.19 +/- 0.11 vs 1.16 +/- 0.04 mPA/s (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the plasma fibrinogen nor in the blood viscosity at shear rats of 230/s and 23/s. Carotic echo-doppler was taken in the HF patients which was normal, indicative of the absence of atherosclerosis lesions in the fibrous plaque phase.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that there are hemorrheological alterations in absences of established atherosclerotic lesions, which are associated with hypercholesterolemia and that emerge in the pediatric population. Therefore, research in FH patients offers new data to evaluate the atherogenic risk and its complications.
Dalmau Serra
J
J
Departamento de Pediatria, Hospital La Fe, Valencia.
Vayá Montaña
A
A
Martínez Silvestre
M
M
Blesa Baviera
L C
LC
Aznar Lucea
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin; D005340:Fibrinogen