title: The Association between Premature Adrenarche and Cardiovascular Risk May Be Greater than Expected.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the cardiovascular risk of children with premature adrenarche (PA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 75 children (44 with PA and 31 control subjects) aged 6-10 years were included in the study. Their metabolic, anthropometric, and echocardiographic parameters were recorded and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Triglyceride, DHEA-SO4, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels were significantly higher in the PA group (p = 0.04, p = 0.002, and p = 0.01, respectively). The echocardiographic assessments revealed that the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) (p < 0.001), left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) ejection times (p = 0.031 and p = 0.035, respectively), and LV and RV Tei index measurements (p = 0.033 and p = 0.006, respectively) were significantly higher in the PA group than in the control group, whereas the E/e' ratio of the mitral lateral annulus was significantly lower in the PA group (p = 0.006). Additionally, carotid intima-media thickness and epicardial adipose tissue measurements were significantly increased in the PA group compared to the control group (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early atherosclerotic changes and subclinical impairment of cardiac function were observed in children with PA. It is possible that these children are on a course for early cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Malatya Beydağı State Hospital, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurullah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Çelik
authors.forename: Hayrullah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alp
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Çamtosun
authors.forename: Esma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alp
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Çelik
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berk
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D050499:Adrenarche / Q000097:blood*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002648:Child; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013318:Stroke Volume; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate