[Lipoprotein in children and adolescents: relationship with family history of coronary artery disease]. / Lipoproteína en niños y adolescentes: relación con historia familiar de enfermedad coronaria.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein (a) is considered an independent cardiovascular risk factor. AIM: To study lipoprotein (a) levels in children of 18 years old or less with or without family history of coronary artery disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty four children aged between 3 and 18 years old with a family history of coronary artery disease and 44 age and sex matched controls were studied. A fasting blood sample was obtained to measure total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, A1 and B apoproteins and lipoprotein (a). RESULTS: Compared to controls, children with a family history of coronary disease had higher total cholesterol (177 +/- 35 and 159 +/- 23 mg/dl respectively), LDL cholesterol (112 +/- 34 and 94 +/- 21 mg/dl respectively), triglycerides (89 +/- 38 and 71 +/- 25 mg/dl respectively), apoprotein B (85 +/- 17 and 65 +/- 13 mg/dl respectively) and lipoprotein (a) (40 +/- 50 and 22 +/- 31 mg/dl respectively). Thirty two percent of children with positive family history had lipoprotein (a) levels over 30 mg/dl, compared to 23% of controls. CONCLUSIONS: Children with family history of coronary artery disease have higher levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein (a) than matched controls.