TY - JOUR
T1 - Acute infections in children are accompanied by oxidative modification of LDL and decrease of HDL cholesterol, and are followed by thickening of carotid intima-media.
AU - Liuba, Petru
AU - Persson, Jerker
AU - Luoma, Jukka
AU - Ylä-Herttuala, Seppo
AU - Pesonen, Erkki
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - Background Atherosclerosis begins early in life. Infections might contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated whether acute infections in children could alter the carotid wall morphology and the tipid profile. Methods Mean carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured by high-resolution ultrasound in 28 hospitatised children (mean age: 5 2 years), who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of acute infections (body temperature, >38 degreesC; C-reactive protein, >15 mg/ml, and clinical), and in 20 age- and gender-matched controls. Antibodies against oxidised tow-density lipoprotein (anti-oxLDL antibodies), as well as total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were analysed in all children. The infection group was investigated both during the acute illness and 3 months after clinical recovery (post-infection). Results During the acute illness, the infection group had elevated anti-oxLDL antibodies and decreased HDL-C, as compared to those obtained at 3 months and in controls (p<0.05). These changes in the infection group were followed, at 3 months, by thickening of carotid intima-media. Those who received antibiotics during their acute illness had less carotid thickening than those who were not treated with antibiotics (p<0.05). Conclusion Acute infections in children seem to be accompanied by enhanced oxidative modification of LDL and by decrease in HDL-C. These lipid changes may be followed by thickening of carotid artery intima-media. These findings suggest that, in childhood, acute infections could be-associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis, and warrant further studies on this topic. (C) 2003 The European Society of Cardiology.
AB - Background Atherosclerosis begins early in life. Infections might contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated whether acute infections in children could alter the carotid wall morphology and the tipid profile. Methods Mean carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured by high-resolution ultrasound in 28 hospitatised children (mean age: 5 2 years), who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of acute infections (body temperature, >38 degreesC; C-reactive protein, >15 mg/ml, and clinical), and in 20 age- and gender-matched controls. Antibodies against oxidised tow-density lipoprotein (anti-oxLDL antibodies), as well as total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were analysed in all children. The infection group was investigated both during the acute illness and 3 months after clinical recovery (post-infection). Results During the acute illness, the infection group had elevated anti-oxLDL antibodies and decreased HDL-C, as compared to those obtained at 3 months and in controls (p<0.05). These changes in the infection group were followed, at 3 months, by thickening of carotid intima-media. Those who received antibiotics during their acute illness had less carotid thickening than those who were not treated with antibiotics (p<0.05). Conclusion Acute infections in children seem to be accompanied by enhanced oxidative modification of LDL and by decrease in HDL-C. These lipid changes may be followed by thickening of carotid artery intima-media. These findings suggest that, in childhood, acute infections could be-associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis, and warrant further studies on this topic. (C) 2003 The European Society of Cardiology.
KW - high-density lipoprotein
KW - oxidised low-density lipoprotein
KW - acute infection
KW - carotid intima-media thickness
U2 - 10.1016/S0195-668X(02)00750-9
DO - 10.1016/S0195-668X(02)00750-9
M3 - Article
SN - 1522-9645
VL - 24
SP - 517
EP - 523
JO - European Heart Journal
JF - European Heart Journal
IS - 6
ER -