title: Morphological and functional vascular changes induced by childhood obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate endothelial dysfunction and morphological vascular changes in childhood obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  93 overweight/obese children (body mass index 26 ± 5 kg/m(2); median 26 kg/m(2); interquartile range 22-28 kg/m(2)), mean age 10.9 ± 2.7 years, underwent a check-up of total, high-density lipoprotein- and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and white blood cell count, together with ultrasound measures of flow-mediated dilatation, carotid intima-media thickness, and anterior-posterior diameter of the abdominal aorta.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The body mass index of overweight/obese children had a statistically significant linear relationship (p < 0.05) with triglycerides, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, carotid intima-media thickness, anterior-posterior diameter of the abdominal aorta, and flow-mediated dilatation values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight/obese children have an initial endothelial dysfunction and vascular damage, i.e., the first stage in the development of atherosclerosis.
authors: Section of Cardiology, D.E.T.O., University of Bari, Bari, Italy. ciccone@cardio.uniba.it
authors: Marco Matteo
authors: MM
authors: Ciccone
authors: Vito
authors: V
authors: Miniello
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Marchioli
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Scicchitano
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Cortese
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Palumbo
authors: Stefano Giuseppe
authors: SG
authors: Primitivo
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Sassara
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Ricci
authors: Santa
authors: S
authors: Carbonara
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Gesualdo
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Diaferio
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Mercuro
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: De Pergola
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Giordano
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Favale
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016014:Linear Models; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein