High-sensitivity C-reactive protein is a good marker of cardiovascular risk in obese children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
We intend to assess the utility of the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a marker of cardiovascular risk in obese children and adolescents.


METHODS
The study included children and adolescents between 6 and 18 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 2 SDS. All the patients had their blood pressure taken and hs-CRP, hepatic function, lipid profile and uric acid were determined after 12 h of fasting. Likewise, an oral glucose tolerance test was performed, determining basal glucose and insulin levels, and after stimulus. We considered the presence of metabolic syndrome when the obese children and teenagers showed at least two of the following conditions: decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension or alteration in glucose metabolism.


RESULTS
Out of the 115 obese children studied, 24% showed signs of metabolic syndrome. Those with metabolic syndrome presented higher levels of hs-CRP (mean: 3.8 mg/l; 95% CI: 2.8-4.8) in comparison with the obese patients who did not show signs of metabolic syndrome (mean: 2 mg/l; 95% CI: 1.5-2.5). After a multivariate analysis, the variables that appear to influence the changes in hs-CRP were BMI, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The hs-CRP is a useful tool for early diagnosis of cardiovascular risk in obese children and teenagers.
Soriano-Guillén
Leandro
L
Deparment of Pediatrics, Fundación Jimenez Diaz, University Autonoma of Madrid, Avenida Reyes Catolicos no 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain. lsoriano@fjd.es
Hernández-García
Bárbara
B
Pita
Jimena
J
Domínguez-Garrido
Nieves
N
Del Río-Camacho
Genoveva
G
Rovira
Adela
A
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein