HDL-cholesterol, blood pressure, and asymmetric dimethylarginine are significantly associated with arterial wall thickness in children.
OBJECTIVE
Atherosclerosis is found at autopsy in the arteries of adolescents and young adults. Arterial wall thickening may be assessed in vivo by ultrasound measurement of the carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. As the determinants of arterial wall thickness in childhood are unknown, we assessed the influence of cardiovascular risk factors on CIMT in 8-year-old children.


RESULTS
A community-based sample of 405 children (age 8.0+/-0.1 years, 49% girls) had anthropometry, family history, blood pressure (BP), and CIMT measured. A blood sample was collected for HDL and non-HDL cholesterol, apolipoproteins A1 and B, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, bilirubin, and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA, an endogenous nitric oxide inhibitor). CIMT was significantly associated with systolic BP (r=0.17, P<0.001), diastolic BP (r=0.10, P=0.04), HDL (r=-0.13, P=0.02), and ADMA (r=0.18, P=0.001). CIMT was significantly higher in children with premature parental CHD (0.63+/-0.07 versus 0.59+/-0.06 mm, P=0.03). On multivariate analysis, HDL (beta coefficient=-0.02, P=0.04), ADMA (beta coefficient=0.05, P<0.001), and systolic BP (beta coefficient=0.001, P=0.003) were significantly and independently associated with CIMT.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower HDL-cholesterol, higher levels of ADMA, and systolic BP are significantly associated with greater arterial wall thickness in early childhood.
Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Julian G
JG
Ayer
Jason A
JA
Harmer
Shirley
S
Nakhla
Wei
W
Xuan
Martin K C
MK
Ng
Olli T
OT
Raitakari
Guy B
GB
Marks
David S
DS
Celermajer
D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine