Lipoprotein (a) in obese children with a family history of cardiovascular disease.

Abstract

To analyze the influence of family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) on lipoprotein (a) (Lpa) values in obese children. Lpa values were measured by a nephelometric technique in 837 prepubertal obese children (442 girls, 395 boys) aged 6-8 years. Lpa > 30 mg/dl were determined to be a risk factor for CVD after complete recording of dietary norms, family history of CVD and coronary risk in relatives aged less than 50 years old. The obese children's group with BMI > 30 and with family history of CVD presented higher values of Lpa (32.07 +/- 1.2 mg/dl) in comparison to the less obese group with family history of CVD (27.19 +/- 0.8 mg/dl) (p < 0.01), and both of these groups had significantly higher Lpa values than the groups with no family history of CVD. Childhood obesity with high BMI increases the risk of CVD when these children become adults in children with family risk factors for CVD.