PP30 LOW LEVELS OF 6-KETO PGF 1α AND INCREASED CAROTID INTIMA–MEDIA THICKNESS IN OBESE CHILDREN WITH INSULIN RESISTANCE

Abstract

PP30 – Table 1 Glucose Insulin HOMA Cholesterol Triglyceride TNF-α 6-keto PG (mg/dl) (μUI/ml) (mg/dl) (mg/dl) (pg/ml) (pg/ml) Group A (76 pts) 89.3±6.6 14.6±7.7 3.2±1.7 161±29 105.4±60 10.1±5.4 185.1±24.1 (44 pts) Group B (80 pts) 88.0±8.5 11.0±5.8 2.4±1.3 162±32 85.4±50 14±7.5 492.6±91.8 (26 pts) p NS 0.001 0.002 NS 0.025 NS 0.002 and cirrhosis) usually occur in middle and late age, atherosclerotic process in the vascular wall and liver damage might begin very early in obese children. Aim of the study: was to investigate, in children attending our outpatient clinic for obesity, 1) any early vascular structural change and the presence of fatty liver; 2) any possible metabolic risk factor. Patients and methods: the study population consisted of 156 children (71 girls), whose BMI z-score was 4.5±1.4 and their mean age was 8.2±2.7 years. They all underwent ultrasonography to measure the intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotids and to study the morphology of the liver. Their serum glucose, insulin, HOMA index, lipids, TNF-α were measured as well. For those who gave their consent (70 pts), 6-keto PGF 1α was also evaluated. Results: according to IMT measurement, patients were divided in Group A (0.6-0.7 mm) with a BMI z-score of 4.6±1.4* and Group B (0.4-0.5 mm) with a BMI z-score of 4.1±0.9* (*p= 0.2). Their data are reported in Table 1. Liver steatosis was present in 23/76 pts of Group A (30.2%) and in 11/80 pts of Group B (13.7%) Conclusions: Increased carotid IMT was documented in 76/156 children (48.7%) and fatty liver in 34/156 (21.8%). Fasting insulin levels, HOMA index, triglyceride levels and 6-Keto-PGF1α were significantly different between Group A and Group B. These data might suggest that higher insulin resistance and triglyceride levels, together with low levels of 6-keto PGF 1α could be considered risk factors for early vascular damage and hepatic steatosis in obese children.