title: [Ultrasound measurements of intra-abdominal adiposity and factors associated with cardiovascular risk in obese children].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular risk factors are commonly present in obese children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association among radiological measurements of intra-abdominal adipose tissue, and cardiovascular risk factors, in prepuberal obese children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 30 obese (body mass index > p95) children aged 6 to 12 years (15 males). Anthropometry and blood pressure were measured. Subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat thickness and fat area were measured by ultrasound (US) and computed tomography. Serum insulin, glucose and lipid profile were measured in a fasting blood sample. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was calculated as an index of insulin resistance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant correlation between US intra-abdominal fat thickness and HOMA (r = 0.47, p < 0.01), serum triglycerides (r = 0.46, p < 0.05) and with positive criteria for metabolic syndrome (r = 0.66, p < 0.01). A receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis showed that, above a cut-off of 45 mm for intra-abdominal fat thickness, US was able to identify insulin resistance with a sensibility and specificity of 79 and 69% respectively and metabolic syndrome with sensibility and specificity of 100 and 67% respectively. US and computed tomography measurements for intra-abdominal fat thickness were significantly correlated (r= 0.62, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US measurements of intra-abdominal fat thickness identify obesity-associated damage in childhood. Age-specific measurements of intra-abdominal adipose tissue may improve the detection power of this approach.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. mreyes@inta.cl
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Aníbal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: M Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rebollo
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moraga
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mericq
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castillo-Durán
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids