title: Increased circulating High-Sensitivity Troponin T concentrations in children and adolescents with obesity and the metabolic syndrome: a marker for early cardiac damage?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk for atherosclerosis mediated by the pathogenetic mechanisms that lead to the development of the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). High-Sensitivity Troponin T (hs-TnT) is a specific marker of ischemic myocardial damage, whereas a minimal elevation of this biomarker has been found in adults with a high-risk for cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that hs-TnT might be altered in obese children with and/or without the Mets.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven (34 males) obese and 25 non-obese (6 males) children were assessed at the Childhood Obesity Clinic of our department. Obesity was defined using the IOTF criteria. Metabolic syndrome was defined with the IDF criteria. Hs-TnT was measured using an electrochemiluminescence-based assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The entire group of obese children had significantly higher hs-TnT concentrations [4.1 ± 3.4 ng/L] (p=0.029) than the non-obese ones [3.0 ± 0.2 ng/L), however, in both groups the levels of the cardiac biomarker were within the normal range. Comparison of the obese children with or without the MetS and the non-obese, revealed that those with the MetS had significantly higher hs-TnT (6.7±7.1 ng/L) than the obese without MetS (3.7 ± 2.1 ng/L) [p=0.044], and the non-obese [p=0.014]. Hs-TnT did not differ between the obese without MetS and the non-obese.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Circulating concentrations of hs-TnT in obese children with the MetS are higher than those of the obese without the MetS and the non-obese, suggesting that it is obesity-related metabolic changes rather than obesity per se linked to increased hs-TnT in children.
authors.affiliation: Childhood Obesity Clinic, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. ppervanid@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pervanidou
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akalestos
authors.forename: Despoina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bastaki
authors.forename: Filia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Apostolakou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papassotiriou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chrousos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012016:Reference Values; D018401:Sample Size; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D020107:Troponin T / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D020107:Troponin T; D002784:Cholesterol