J Korean Med Sci.  2007 Apr;22(2):192-197. 10.3346/jkms.2007.22.2.192.

A Useful Predictor of Early Atherosclerosis in Obese Children: Serum High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein

• Roh EJ
• Lim JW
• Ko KO
• Cheon EJ

• KMID: 1713159
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2007.22.2.192

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.

Keyword

C-reactive Protein; Intima-media Thickness; Flow-mediated Dilation; Obesity

MeSH Terms

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

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Linear correlation of high-sensitivity C-reative protein (hs-CRP) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in the obesity group (r=-0.327, p<0.05, hs-CRP=6.472-1.89*FMD).

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  Fig. 2 Linear correlation of high-sensitivity C-reative protein (hs-CRP) and intima-media thickness (IMT) in the obesity group (r=0.437, p<0.05, hs-CRP=0.377+0.042*IMT).

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