title: Carotid intima-media thickness and serum endothelial marker levels in obese children with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and serum endothelial marker levels in obese Chinese children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational and descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hangzhou, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total 131 obese children, including 29 with at least 2 components of metabolic syndrome (MS) (MS group), 102 with less than 2 components of MS (obese group), and 31 nonobese children (control group) were enrolled.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intima-media thickness, von Willebrand factor (vWF) level, and thrombomodulin level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, the obese group had greater IMT and higher vWF level (P < .05 for all). The mean (SD) vWF levels in the obese, MS, and control groups were 2.08 (0.78), 2.42 (0.98), and 1.54 (0.48) IU/mL, respectively, which were significantly different (P < .001). Intima-media thickness in the obese and MS groups was significantly greater than that in the control group. Intima-media thickness in the MS group was greater than that in the obese group. Multiple regression analysis showed that ratio of waist to height, vWF level, and triglycerides level were independent determinants of IMT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest endothelial injury in obese children. Intima-media thickness and vWF level might be useful to identify the degree of endothelial damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, The Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 57 Zhugan Xiang, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chao Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Xiu Zhen
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiu Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D018180:Thrombomodulin / Q000097:blood*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D018180:Thrombomodulin; D014841:von Willebrand Factor