Adipose tissue infiltration of skeletal muscle in children with cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy (QCP) have a greater adipose tissue (AT) infiltration of skeletal muscle than typically developing children (12/group and 5-14 years).


METHODS
Cross-sectional area (CSA) of AT and muscle in the midthigh were assessed with magnetic resonance imaging. Physical activity was assessed with an activity monitor.


RESULTS
Children with QCP had 2.3-fold higher intermuscular AT CSA and 51% lower muscle CSA in the midthigh than control subjects. Midthigh intermuscular, subfascial, and subcutaneous AT CSA adjusted for midthigh muscle CSA were higher in children with QCP (all P < .05). Moreover, the proportion of intermuscular AT CSA and subfascial AT CSA relative to subcutaneous AT CSA in the midthigh were 2.5-fold and 1.8-fold higher in children with QCP than control subjects (all P < .05). Children with QCP also had 70% fewer physical activity counts, which was inversely related to intermuscular AT CSA (r = -0.76) and subfascial AT CSA (r = -0.63) adjusted for muscle CSA in the midthigh of children with QCP (both P < 0.05), but not in control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with QCP have a greater AT infiltration of skeletal muscle than typically developing children, which is related to their low level of physical activity.
Johnson
David L
DL
Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
Miller
Freeman
F
Subramanian
Pravesh
P
Modlesky
Christopher M
CM
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000473:pathology; D013848:Thigh