The impact of obesity on cardiovascular risk factors in Turner's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate risk factors for coronary artery disease in women with Turner's syndrome which may contribute to the increased incidence of premature cardiovascular death noted in this disorder.


METHODS
Comparison of clinical and biochemical parameters in women with Turner's syndrome with those in women with normal karyotype.


METHODS
Ninety-one women with Turner's syndrome attending a dedicated adult Turner's syndrome clinic and 22 control subjects were studied.


METHODS
Recumbent blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), fasting total cholesterol, triglycerides and high density lipoproteins (HDL) were measured in both study groups.


RESULTS
Women with Turner's syndrome were more obese compared with women with a normal karyotype. They were more likely to be hypertensive and the obese patients had higher serum triglyceride concentrations. Hypertension was independent of obesity and may be under-recognized because of failure to compare with age-matched normal ranges. Lipoprotein changes were accounted for by the obesity.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with Turner's syndrome may be at increased risk of developing coronary artery disease as a result of the higher frequency of hypertension and obesity. Routine screening of this population for risk factors for ischaemic heart disease is recommended.
Elsheikh
M
M
Department of Endocrinology, Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.
Conway
G S
GS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology
D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol