Compared to 20 controls, 32 obese children demonstrated significantly impaired flow-mediated vasodilation, increased intima-media thickness, and elevated E-selectin and thrombomodulin.
Case-Control (n=52)
Do obese children have impaired vascular status and elevated endothelial plasma markers compared to controls?
Obese children exhibit early signs of atherosclerosis, including impaired endothelial function and increased intima-media thickness, highlighting the need for early cardiovascular risk screening.
OBJECTIVES: Childhood obesity contributes to the development of adult obesity and subsequent cardiovascular disease. The present study aimed to assess vascular status (flow-mediated vasodilation FMD, intima-media thickness IMT) and to analyze plasma surrogate endothelial markers (von Willebrand factor vWf, E-selectin, and thrombomodulin) in obese children as compared with controls. Associations between early morphologic and functional vascular changes, surrogate soluble markers of early atherosclerosis, and the cardiovascular risk profile were determined. METHODS: We examined 32 obese children versus 20 control subjects. All of the children underwent identical screening, comprehensive risk factor assessment, and measurements of E-selectin, vWf, thrombomodulin, FMD, and IMT. RESULTS: Compared with controls, obese children demonstrated significantly impaired FMD and increased IMT. Concentrations of soluble E-selectin and thrombomodulin were significantly elevated in obese children, whereas vWf showed no significant differences between obese children and controls. FMD, IMT, E-selectin, and thrombomodulin were significantly associated with various risk factors, including the extent of obesity, arterial hypertension, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, and low physical fitness. CONCLUSIONS: The present study documented increased IMT, impaired endothelial function, and elevated plasma markers of endothelial activation and injury in obese children. Morbid obesity, arterial hypertension, subclinical inflammation, and low physical fitness formed a risk profile associated with the risk of early atherosclerosis in these children. Sonographic assessment of vascular status and the estimation of soluble endothelial plasma markers, combined with comprehensive risk factor screening, may form a rationale to identify high-risk children susceptible to early atherosclerotic disease and to monitor vascular changes during follow-up studies and therapeutic measures.
Meyer et al. (Mon,) conducted a case-control in Childhood obesity (n=52). Obesity vs. Controls was evaluated on Vascular status (flow-mediated vasodilation, intima-media thickness) and plasma surrogate endothelial markers. Compared to 20 controls, 32 obese children demonstrated significantly impaired flow-mediated vasodilation, increased intima-media thickness, and elevated E-selectin and thrombomodulin.
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