A Useful Predictor of Early Atherosclerosis in Obese Children: Serum High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein.
10.3346/jkms.2007.22.2.192
- Author:
Eui Jung ROH
1
;
Jae Woo LIM
;
Kyoung Og KO
;
Eun Jung CHEON
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon, Korea. kcm1000@kyuh.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
C-reactive Protein;
Intima-media Thickness;
Flow-mediated Dilation;
Obesity
- MeSH:
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Risk Factors;
Risk Assessment/*methods;
Reproducibility of Results;
Prognosis;
Obesity/*blood/*complications/diagnosis;
Male;
Humans;
Female;
C-Reactive Protein/*analysis;
Biological Markers/blood;
Atherosclerosis/*blood/complications/*diagnosis;
Adolescent
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2007;22(2):192-197
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Childhood obesity seems to contribute to the development of vascular inflammation and the progression of arterial wall changes. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has recently emerged as a useful biomarker for vascular inflammation associated with atherosclerosis. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the association of the serum hs-CRP level with ultrasonic findings of early atherosclerosis, carotid intima-media wall thickness (IMT) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), in obese children. Thirty eight obese children and 45 sex/age-matched healthy control children were recruited. Serum CRP levels were measured by the high-sensitive latex turbidimetric immunoassay, and we measured carotid IMT and brachial FMD using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Obese children had significantly higher hs-CRP levels (1.40+/-0.74 mg/L vs. 0.55+/-0.49 mg/L, p<0.01), as well as increased IMT (0.52+/-0.09 mm vs. 0.41+/-0.07 mm, p<0.01) and impaired FMD (7.35+/-7.78% vs. 20.34+/-16.81%, p<0.01) compared to healthy controls. Serum hs-CRP correlated positively with IMT (r=0.413, p<0.05) and inversely with FMD (r=-0.350, p<0.05) in the obesity group. Measurement of the serum hs-CRP level is a simple, cheap, and highly reproducible assay and correlates with IMT and FMD in obese children. Thus, it would be a useful marker for evaluating and estimating the degree of atherosclerosis in children.
