[Evaluation of carotid intima-media thickness in familial hypercholesterolemia in childhood].
BACKGROUND
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is characterized by exposure to severely elevated LDL-cholesterol from birth, which produces lipid deposits, which can be measured by means of intima-media thickness (IMT).


METHODS
The IMT and concentrations of cholesterol and its fractions, triglycerides, alipoproteins Apo-A1, Apo-B and endothelial risk factors (homocysteine and high sensitivity protein C ) were determined in 89 patients (44 males) from 2 to 19 years (9.54+/-3.91 years). IMT was measured by ultrasound using a 12MHz linear array transducer in both carotids to 1cm of the bulb. The IMT mean was compared with age, sex and analytical parameters using multiple regression analysis.


RESULTS
The mean values were: IMT 0.334+/-0.088mm, total cholesterol 273.62+/-91.93mg/dl, LDL-cholesterol 204.21+/-86.16mg/dl, LDL/HDL 3.83+/-1.45, apoprotein A1 134.61+/-26.49mg/dl, apoprotein B 130.59+/-40.59mg/dl, homocysteine (median) 7.16mmol/dl, Protein C (median) 0.3mg/l. Using multiple regression analysis, only age was associated with IMT (P=0.049), a mean 0.005mm (95% CI: 0.000-0.010) being the annual increase: up to 12 years the increase in IMT was 0.002mm/year on (95% CI: -0.007-0,010) and then from that age it was 0.013mm/year (95% CI: -0.023-0.049).


CONCLUSIONS
The measurement of the carotid IMT could become an objective parameter in the evaluation of the FH in childhood. In our study, it is only associated with age, the increase being most marked from 12 years onwards.
Dalmau Serra
J
J
Unidad de Nutrición y Metabolopatías, Hospital Infantil La Fe, Valencia, España. dalmau_jai@gva.es
Vitoria Miñana
I
I
Legarda Tamara
M
M
Muro Velilla
D
D
Sangüesa Nebot
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult