ARTERIAL MECHANICAL CHANGES AND CAROTID INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC CHILDREN

Background: Arterial stiffness is an important determinant of cardio- vascular risk. It is associated with several cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes and cigarette smoking. However, there are conflicting data about the relationship between arterial stiffness and hypercholesterolemia (Hch), furthermore, augmentation index (AIx), a measure of systemic arterial stiffness, has not been previously investigated in Hch children. The aim of this study was to evaluated carotid and systemic arterial stiffness as well as carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in child with Hch and also to investigate the relation between serum cholesterol levels and arterial stiffness. Methods: We determined lipid profile, BMI, blood pressure, heart rate, ECG, carotid IMT and parameters of arterial stiffness, including b-stiffness, elastic modulus (Ep), arterial compliance (AC), pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx), in 44 untreated subjects (16M/28F), mean age 10.7±2.8 years) with Hch (18 with FH and 26 with primary Hch) and 15 age and sex-matched controls. Results: No difference in blood pressure, heart rate, BMI, triglycerides and IMT values was found between the groups of subjects. In Hch subjects the values of b-stiffness, Ep, PWV and AIx were significantly higher (p<0.001), whereas those of AC was lower (p<0.01) respect to controls.b-stiffness,Ep, AC, PWV and AIx values were significantly correlated with plasma LDL-C levels (rs = 0.42, p<0.001; rs = 0.45, p<0.001, rs =0.28, p<0.05; rs = 0.41,p<0.005; rs = 0.51, p<0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the regression analysis showed a significant ependence between LDL-C levels and arterial stiffness values. Conclusion: Our findings shows that the values of carotid and systemic arterial stiffness are increased in asymptomatic, normotensive children with HCh, suggesting that HCh plays a key role in arterial endothelial modifications already since the pediatric age.