title: Carotid intima-media thickness in children with familial hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) predisposes patients to premature cardiovascular disease, with the process of atherosclerosis initiated in early childhood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  As part of an ongoing trial to assess the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin in children with FH aged 6 to 17 years, we report the differences in carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) at baseline between children with FH and their unaffected siblings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  B-mode ultrasound measurements of the carotid artery were made in 196 children with FH and 64 of their siblings. Mean (±SE) cIMT in children with FH was significantly greater than that of unaffected siblings (0.398±0.052 versus 0.377±0.045 mm; P<0.001). A significantly greater cIMT value was observed before the age of 8 years. Multivariable analyses showed that age, male sex, and presence of FH were independent predictors of cIMT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The difference in mean cIMT between children with FH and their unaffected siblings may be significant as early as age 8 years. This study confirms the need for early cholesterol lowering in this high-risk population. These patients participating in a carefully monitored study will help assess the long-term efficacy on cIMT and safety of statin therapy in young children.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Vascular Medicine (D.M.K., J.J.P.K.), Pediatrics (D.M.K., A.W.), and Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Bioinformatics (B.A.H.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dorothé M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kusters
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiegman
authors.forename: John J P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kastelein
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Hutten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002170:Canada; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002648:Child; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D012737:Sex Factors; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium
keywords: carotid intima-media thickness; hyperlipoproteinemia type II; pediatrics