Platelet function in obese children and adolescents.
Platelet hyperaggregability contributes to thromboembolic events of obesity in adulthood. In obese children hyperaggregability was described in platelet rich plasma. We investigated platelet aggregation in children with obesity and lipometabolic disorders in whole blood.


METHODS
Specimens from patients with overweight (n = 35), hypercholesterolaemia and normal weight (n = 5), overweight plus combined lipometabolic disorder (n = 5) and healthy controls (n = 20) were investigated. Aggregation and ATP release were induced by ADP (20 μmol/l), collagen (1 μg/ml) and thrombin (0.5 U/ml) using a lumiaggregometer.


RESULTS
Overweight children and normal weight patients with hypercholesterolaemia exhibited no significant differences in platelet aggregation compared to controls. Contrastingly, in patients with obesity plus lipometabolic disorder the aggregation rate was significantly higher (p < 0.05) suggesting a hyperaggregable state.


CONCLUSIONS
Obviously in obese children a hypercoagulable state exists and the slight hyperaggregability observed in whole blood in this cohort might contribute to that. Any effort should be undertaken to avoid obesity in children especially in those countries where the prevalence of obesity in childhood is continuously increasing.
Department of Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University of Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, D-01307 Dresden, Germany. judith.lohse@uniklinikum-dresden.de
J
J
Lohse
J
J
Schweigel
A
A
Naeke
M A
MA
Lee-Kirsch
G
G
Siegert
S
S
Bergmann
E
E
Kuhlisch
M
M
Suttorp
R
R
Knöfler
D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult
D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate