Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Children With Familial Hypercholesterolemia
+ Author Affiliations
- Correspondence to Barbara A. Hutten, PhD, Academic Medical Center, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Bioinformatics, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands. E-mail b.a.hutten@amc.uva.nl
Abstract
Rationale:
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) predisposes patients to premature
cardiovascular disease, with the process of atherosclerosis
initiated in early childhood.
Objective:
As part of an ongoing trial to assess the efficacy and safety of
rosuvastatin in children with FH aged 6 to 17 years, we
report the differences in carotid
intima-media thickness (cIMT) at baseline between children with FH and
their unaffected
siblings.
Methods and Results:
B-mode ultrasound measurements of the carotid artery were made in 196
children with FH and 64 of their siblings. Mean (±SE)
cIMT in children with FH was significantly
greater than that of unaffected siblings (0.398±0.052 versus 0.377±0.045
mm; P<0 .001="" 8="" a="" age="" analyses="" and="" before="" cimt.="" cimt="" fh="" greater="" independent="" male="" multivariable="" observed="" of="" p="" predictors="" presence="" sex="" showed="" significantly="" that="" the="" value="" was="" were="" years.="">
0>
Conclusions:
The difference in mean cIMT between children with FH and their
unaffected siblings may be significant as early as age 8 years.
This study confirms the need for early
cholesterol lowering in this high-risk population.
These patients
participating in
a carefully monitored study will help assess
the long-term efficacy on cIMT and safety of statin therapy in young
children.
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