Endothelial Function and Mechanical Arterial Properties in Children Born Small for Gestational Age: Comparison with Obese Children

BACKGROUND: Early cardiovascular events preceding atherosclerosis have been reported in children born small for gestational age (SGA). AIMS: To describe in detail the mechanical and functional arterial properties of SGA children and to compare the data to those of obese children in order to gain a better understanding of the severity of the dysfunction. A control group was required to overcome the lack of normal values. METHODS: Three groups of 7- to 15-year-old children were included. Sixty children born SGA without obesity, 49 children with obesity and not SGA, and 55 controls underwent complete carotid and brachial arterial measurements using ultrasound and flow-mediated dilation. Biological measurements were performed in the obese and SGA groups. RESULTS: Mean blood pressure and intima-media thickness were lower in SGA children than in the obese group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively), but not different from the control group. Flow-mediated dilation was lower in SGA than in obese children and in controls (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These data show that children born SGA have endothelial dysfunction with normal intima-media thickness.