Endocrinological, immunological and metabolic features of patients with Fabry disease under therapy.

OBJECTIVES: Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal disorder caused by decreased or absent alpha galactosidase enzyme. The enzyme deficiency leads to progressive accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb-3) and its deacetylated form lyso-Gb3 in various tissue lysosomes that results in primarily lysosomal deterioration and subsequently mitochondrial, endothelial, and immunologic dysfunctions. METHODS: The endocrinological, metabolic, immunological and HLA status of 12 patients were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 11 patients (91.6 %) had immunologic and/or endocrinologic abnormalities. fT4, anti-TPO, and anti-TG levels were increased in 1, 2, and 2 patients, respectively. Three patients had elevated proinflammatory cytokines. ANA profile, p-ANCA and c-ANCA were positive in 1, 1, and 2 patients, respectively. Tissue transglutaminase antibody was negative in all patients however P5 was diagnosed with Celiac disease at the age of 12 and on gluten free diet. All patients had distinct types of HLA apart from 2 patients with anti-TG and anti-TPO positive and there was no relationship between the HLA types and the autoimmunity biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: FD may have impact on endocrinologic and immunologic abnormalities even in the patients under ERT, therefore prevalence of these abnormalities may be higher in ERT naïve patients. However, apparently, they are less likely to cause clinical symptoms. Certain HLA alleles may contribute to the direct impact of immunological pathogenesis in FD by developing abnormal autoimmune biomarkers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating HLA status of FD patients; therefore further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanism of action.

Clinical and event-based outcomes of patients with mucopolysaccharidosis VI receiving enzyme replacement therapy in Turkey: a case series.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to describe clinical manifestations and events of patients with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) VI in Turkey who are treated with galsulfase enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). Clinical data of 14 children with MPS VI who were followed up at the Department of Pediatrics of the Gazi University Faculty of Medicine in Ankara, Turkey were retrospectively collected from the patients' medical records. Patients were selected based on availability of a pre-ERT baseline and follow-up clinical data for a similar period of time (1.9-3.2 years). Event data (occurrence of acute clinical events, onset of chronic events, surgeries) collected during hospital visits and telemedicine were available for up to 10 years after initiation of ERT (2.5-10 years). RESULTS: Age at initiation of ERT ranged from 2.8 to 15.8 years (mean age 7.5 years). All patients presented with reduced endurance and skeletal abnormalities (dysostosis multiplex) on radiography. Other common clinical manifestations were cardiac valve disease (N = 13), short stature (N = 11), cranial abnormalities on MRI (N = 10), spinal abnormalities on MRI (N = 7), and mild cognitive impairment (N = 6). School attendance was generally poor, and several patients had urinary incontinence. After 1.9 to 3.2 years of ERT, most patients showed improvements in endurance in the 6-min walk test and 3-min stair climb tests; the frequency of urinary incontinence decreased. ERT did not seem to prevent progression of cardiac valve disease, eye disorders, hearing loss, or bone disease. Long-term event-based data showed a high incidence of respiratory tract infections, adenotonsillectomy/adenoidectomy, reduced sleep quality, sleep apnea, and depression before initiation of ERT. The number of events tended to remain stable or decrease in all patients over 2.5-10 years follow-up. However, the nature of the events shifted over time, with a reduction in the frequency of respiratory tract infections and sleep problems and an increase in ophthalmologic events, ear tube insertions, and depression. CONCLUSIONS: This case series shows the high disease burden of the MPS VI population in Turkey and provides a unique insight into their clinical journey based on real-life clinical and event-based data collected before and after initiation of ERT.

Familial hyperphosphatemic tumoral calcinosis in an unusual and usual sites and dramatic improvement with the treatment of acetazolamide, sevelamer and topical sodium thiosulfate.

OBJECTIVES: Familial hyperphosphatemic tumoral calcinosis is a rare disorder characterized by hyperphosphatemia with recurrent ectopic periarticular calcifications, in addition to other visceral and vascular manifestations, without any inflammatory or neoplastic disorder. The available treatment strategies are limited. Here we report an eight year old female patient with recurrent lesions under the chin, and bilateral hips which are painful and improving of the size of the lesions and hyperphosphatemia. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was started to the treatment with peroral acetazolamide however the lesion did not regress but a new lesion appeared then we added sevelamer and topical sodium thiosulfate treatment for three months. After the three months of the combination treatment the lesions, there were no pain, no hyperphospahtemia regression/disappearance of the lesions. CONCLUSIONS: This combination treatment or topical sodium thiosulfate use only may be a novel treatment strategy for the patients prospective controlled trials are needed.

High incidence of co-existing factors significantly modifying the phenotype in patients with Fabry disease.

Fabry disease results from deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. The families of 11 index cases were screened by enzyme and molecular assays. Further clinical and laboratory investigations were carried out in all cases. Including 33 new patients, a total of 28 females (Age 25,82 ±â€¯12,1 Range 8-46) and 16 males (Age 24,56 ±â€¯15,04 Range 2-48) were investigated. Ten different disease-causing variants were found two of them being novel. One patient had co-existing familial mediteranian fever, one had celiac disease and three had rheumatological disorders. Lipoprotein (a) levels were elevated in 17,6%, homocysteine in 22,2%, total and low density cholesterol in 12% and antithrombin 3 levels were elevated in 13,3%. One patient was found to be heterozygous for prothrombin p.G20210A disease-causing variant (5,8%) and two for factor V Leiden disease-causing variant (11,7%). Anticardiolipin IgM antibody was found to be positive in 11,7%. The patients with abnormal cranial imaging were also noticed to have additional risk factors for thrombosis. This study provides the largest data about Fabry patients from Turkey and implies that co-existing risk factors unrelated to Fabry Disease have significant association with the presence of clinical symptoms in females and might cause an early and severe clinical course in males.

Hematologic Findings of Inherited Metabolic Disease: They are More Than Expected.

Inherited metabolic diseases are pathologic conditions that generally develop as a result of impairment of the production or breakdown of protein, carbohydrate, and fatty acids. Early determination of hematological findings has a positive effect on the prognosis of metabolic diseases. Three hundred eighteen patients who were being followed-up within the previous 6 months at Department of Pediatric Nutrition and Metabolism, Gazi University, Turkey, were included in the study. The hematological findings were classified under 7 main groups: anemia of chronic disease, iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, hemophagocytosis, leukocytosis, and thrombocytosis. Nine hundred twenty-two hematological examinations of the 319 patients were included in the study, and 283 hematological findings were determined, 127 anemia of chronic disease, 81 iron deficiency anemia, 56 cytopenia, and 4 vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. Leukocytosis (n=1), thrombocytosis (n=5), and hemophagocytosis (n=9) were also observed. It was determined that, although anemia of chronic disease and nutritional anemia are the most common hematological findings, these may be diagnosed late, whereas neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, and hemostasis disorders may be diagnosed earlier. Our study is the most comprehensive one in the literature, and we think it would positively contribute to the monitoring and prognosis of congenital metabolic diseases.

Patient With Niemann-Pick Type C Presenting With a Jaw Mass Characterized With Lymph Node Involvement by Niemann-Pick Cells.

Niemann-Pick type C disease (NPC) is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting in accumulation of unesterified lysosomal cholesterol. An 8-year-old girl with NPC disease had a painless, rigid, and fixed mass measuring 3 cm in diameter located on the left angular region of mandibula. The mass biopsy showed lipid-laden phagocytic cells infiltrating the lymph node consistent with Niemann-Pick cells. In NPC, accumulation of cholesterol in tissues could be seen not only in reticuloendothelial and nervous systems, but also in all systems. Our case is important for it being the first case of NPC with submandibular lymphadenopathy characterized with NPC cell infiltration.

Audiologic evaluations of children with mucopolysaccharidosis / Avaliação audiológica em crianças com mucopolissacaridose

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Mucopolysaccharidosis is a hereditary lysosomal storage disease, which develops due to a deficiency in the enzymes that play a role in the metabolism of glycosaminoglycans (GAG). The incidence of mucopolysaccharidosis is 1/25,000, with autosomal recessive inheritance (except for MPS II). Mucopolysaccharidosis occurs in seven different types, each with a different congenital deficiency of lysosomal enzymes. In mucopolysaccharidosis patients, even though progression of clinical findings is not prominent, the disease advances and causes death at early ages. Facial dysmorphism, growth retardation, mental retardation, and skeletal or joint dysplasia are the most frequently found symptoms in these patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study is to present the types of hearing loss types and tympanometric findings of patients with mucopolysaccharidosis referred to our clinic with suspicion of hearing loss. METHODS: After otorhinolaryngological examination, 9 patients with different types of mucopolysaccharidosis, underwent to immittance and audiometric evaluations, performed according to their physical and mental abilities, and ages, in order to determine their hearing thresholds. RESULTS: The audiometric findings of the 9 patients followed with mucopolysaccharidosis were reported separately for each case. CONCLUSION: Based on the high frequency of hearing loss in mucopolysaccharidosis patients, early and detailed audiological evaluations are highly desirable. Therefore, regular and systematic multidisciplinary evaluations are very important.

Resumo Introdução: Mucopolissacaridose (MPS) é uma doença hereditária de depósito lisossômico, decorrente da deficiência das enzimas que influenciam o metabolismo dos glicosaminoglicanos (GAGs). A incidência de MPS é de 1/25.000 habitantes, resultante de herança autossômica recessiva (exceto no caso de MPS II). MPS se apresenta na forma de sete tipos diferentes e, em cada tipo, ocorre uma deficiência congênita distinta de enzimas lisossômicas. Embora em pacientes com MPS os achados clínicos não sejam geralmente observados, a doença progride em seu curso natural e costuma levar a óbito pacientes muito jovens. Dismorfismo facial, retardo de crescimento, retardo mental e displasia esquelética ou articular são os sinais e sintomas mais frequentemente observados nesses pacientes. Objetivo: A finalidade do presente estudo foi apresentar os tipos de perda auditiva e os achados timpanométricos de pacientes com MPS encaminhados para nossa clínica com suspeita de perda auditiva. Método: Em seguida ao exame otorrinolaringológico, nove pacientes com diferentes tipos de MPS, foram submetidos a avaliações imitanciométricas e testes audiométricos de acordo com sua faixa etária eficiência física e mental, no intuito de identificar seus limiares auditivos. Resultados: Os achados audiométricos dos nove pacientes acompanhados por MPS foram descritos separadamente para cada caso. Conclusão: Baseado na alta frequência de perda auditiva em pacientes com MPS, avaliação audiológica precoce e detalhada é altamente desejável. Para tanto, é importante que sejam realizados avaliações multidisciplinares periódicas e sistemáticas.

Audiologic evaluations of children with mucopolysaccharidosis.

INTRODUCTION: Mucopolysaccharidosis is a hereditary lysosomal storage disease, which develops due to a deficiency in the enzymes that play a role in the metabolism of glycosaminoglycans (GAG). The incidence of mucopolysaccharidosis is 1/25,000, with autosomal recessive inheritance (except for MPS II). Mucopolysaccharidosis occurs in seven different types, each with a different congenital deficiency of lysosomal enzymes. In mucopolysaccharidosis patients, even though progression of clinical findings is not prominent, the disease advances and causes death at early ages. Facial dysmorphism, growth retardation, mental retardation, and skeletal or joint dysplasia are the most frequently found symptoms in these patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study is to present the types of hearing loss types and tympanometric findings of patients with mucopolysaccharidosis referred to our clinic with suspicion of hearing loss. METHODS: After otorhinolaryngological examination, 9 patients with different types of mucopolysaccharidosis, underwent to immittance and audiometric evaluations, performed according to their physical and mental abilities, and ages, in order to determine their hearing thresholds. RESULTS: The audiometric findings of the 9 patients followed with mucopolysaccharidosis were reported separately for each case. CONCLUSION: Based on the high frequency of hearing loss in mucopolysaccharidosis patients, early and detailed audiological evaluations are highly desirable. Therefore, regular and systematic multidisciplinary evaluations are very important.

Diagnostic dilemma: osteopetrosis with superimposed rickets causing neonatal hypocalcemia.

Osteopetrosis is a rare genetic condition of reduced osteoclastic bone resorption which causes defective bone remodeling and skeletal sclerosis during growth, having effects on many organs and tissues. Mutation of T-cell immune regulator 1 (TCRG1) gene is the most common genetic defect leading to osteopetrosis, with poor prognosis. The autosomal recessive form presents in the infantile period (also known as malignant infantile osteopetrosis--MIOP), and is characterized by fractures, short stature, hepatosplenomegaly, compressive neuropathies, hypocalcemia and pancytopenia. Being a rare disease with non-specific clinical manifestations, the diagnosis is difficult and usually delayed. Rickets is a characteristic feature of MIOP which results from the defect in osteoclasts to provide a normal Ca/P balance resulting in the poor mineralization of the osteoid. Various treatment options have been suggested for osteopetrosis, but hematopoietic stem cell transplantation still remains the only curative treatment option presently. The authors report the case of a 46-day-old girl with late-onset neonatal hypocalcemia and rickets that was later diagnosed as osteopetrosis. This case report emphasizes that infantile osteopetrosis is an important cause of neonatal hypocalcemia. As irreversible complications develop within the first months of life, immediate diagnosis and early intervention are crucial and may be life-saving.

Home sleep study characteristics in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis.

BACKGROUND: Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a group of inherited lysosomal storage disorders caused by the deficiency of hydrolases involved in the degradative pathway of glycosaminoglycans. In MPS, upper airway obstruction may result from multiple causative factors which may impact severely upon morbidity and mortality. METHODS: We evaluated upper airway obstructive disease and related clinical findings through home sleep study in 19 patients (11 with MPS VI, 4 with MPS I, 4 with MPS II) with MPS followed at Gazi University Pediatric Metabolic Unit. Patients underwent home-based sleep measurements, and sleep respiratory problems were asked in a detailed clinical history. Measurements of apnea, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), hypopnea index, oxygen desaturation index, and minimal oxygen saturation were obtained through home sleep study. RESULTS: For 19 children, the disorder was normal in 1, mild (AHI=1.5-5/h) in 5, moderate (AHI=5-10/h) in 2, and severe (AHI>10/h) in 11. The prevalence of OSA was 94.7 % (18/19) in patients with MPS. Snoring, witnessed apnea, pectus carinatum, and macroglossia were the main clinical findings. Echocardiograms showed evidence of pulmonary hypertension in 13 patients. CONCLUSION: Home sleep study is a quick and accessible screening test to determine the abnormalities of breathing during sleep and enables clinicians to take necessary action for patients with severe manifestations.

Severe renal tubulopathy in a newborn due to BCS1L gene mutation: effects of different treatment modalities on the clinical course.

Very early onset Toni-Debré-Fanconi Syndrome, a disorder of proximal renal tubules of the kidney which results in the increased urinary excretion of glucose, amino acids, uric acid, phosphate and bicarbonate, could be the manifestation of various inborn errors. Defects of oxidative phosphorylation are a heterogeneous group of disorders with various clinical presentations. Recently, patients with early liver failure, renal tubulopathy and encephalopathy due to the mutations in the BCS1L gene coding for a structural protein in mitochondrial complex III have been described. Ten-day-old female newborn was referred to our clinic because of intractable acidosis. Physical examination revealed severe hypotonia, and hepatomegaly. The laboratory examinations revealed lactic acidosis, increased blood alanine, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, generalized aminoaciduria and glucosuria. The tubular reabsorption of phosphate was reduced. Because of multisystem involvement, mitochondrial disease was suspected and the mutational analysis of the BCS1L gene revealed homozygous P99L mutation. As the patient was unresponsive to bicarbonate replacement, oral dichloroacetate and peritoneal dialysis, continuous high dose intravenous sodium bicarbonate therapy with a dose up to 1.25 mEq/kg/h was started. The patient got on well until the age of 9 months when she died of sepsis. It was stressed that high dose intravenous continuous sodium bicarbonate therapy could be an alternative treatment option in patients with severe acidosis and renal tubulopathy resistant to dichloroacetate and peritoneal dialysis. Patients with BCS1L mutations should be considered in the differential diagnosis of severe tubulopathy in the newborn period.

Screening for Fabry disease in patients undergoing dialysis for chronic renal failure in Turkey: identification of new case with novel mutation.

BACKGROUND: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a serious complication of Fabry disease (FD). The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of unrecognized FD in Turkish hemodialysis population and to investigate the molecular background. METHOD: Primarily, α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) activity was investigated on DBS in 1136 patients of both sexes who underwent dialysis for CRF in Turkey. The disease was confirmed by analyzing enzyme activity in leukocyte and GLA gene sequencing in all patients in whom α-Gal A level was 40% of normal or less. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients (44.5% female, 52.5% male) was 56.46±15.85 years. Enzyme activity was found low with DBS method in 12 patients (four males, eight females). Two men, but no women, were diagnosed with FD by enzymatic and molecular analysis. In consequence of genetic analysis of a case, a new mutation [hemizygote c.638C>T (p.P214S) missense mutation in exon 5] was identified, which was not described in literature. Family screening of cases identified six additional cases. CONCLUSION: As a result of this initial screening study performed on hemodialysis patients for the first time with DBS method in Turkey, the prevalence of FD was detected as 0.17%. Although the prevalence seems to be low, screening studies are of great importance for detecting hidden cases as well as for identifying other effected family members.

Apheresis-inducible cytokine pattern change in children with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder that leads to severe atherosclerosis related cardiovascular complications in young adults. Extracorporeal elimination is a method of LDL-lowering procedures effective in patients with homozygous or severe heterozygous FH utilized in cases. The recruitment of leucocytes into the arterial intima is dependent on a cascade of events mediated through a diverse family of adhesion molecules. Several pro-inflammatory adhesion molecules are cleared by various lipid apheresis methods. This study showed that, LDL-apheresis led to several changes in circulating inflammatory factors which induced antiinflammatory and antiatherogenic changes in the plasma profile in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemic patients.

Hypercalcemia in glycogen storage disease type I patients of Turkish origin.

Glycogen storage disease type I (GSD I) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by defects in the glucose-6-phosphatase complex. Deficient activity in the glucose-6-phosphatase-a (G6Pase) catalytic unit characterizes GSD IA and defects in the glucose-6-phosphate transporter protein (G6PC) characterize GSD IB. The main clinical characteristics involve fasting hypoglycemia, hyperuricemia, hyperlactatemia, and hyperlipidemia. Hypercalcemia arose as an unknown problem in GSD I patients, especially in those with insufficient metabolic control. The aim of the present study was to obtain the prevalence of hypercalcemia and to draw attention to the metabolic complications of GSD I patients, including hypercalcemia in poor metabolic control. Hypercalcemia frequency and the affecting factors were studied cross-sectionally in 23 GSD I pediatric subjects. Clinical diagnosis of GSD I was confirmed in all patients either through documentation of deficient G6Pase enzyme activity levels on liver biopsy samples or through G6PC gene sequencing of DNA. Hypercalcemia was detected in 78.3% of patients with GSD I. Different from the previous report about hypercalcemia in a GSD IA patient who had R83H and 341delG mutations, we could not identify any genotype-phenotype correlation in our GSD I patients. Hyperlactatemia and hypertriglyceridemia correlated significantly with hypercalcemia. Furthermore, no differences in serum calcium concentrations could be demonstrated between patients with optimal metabolic control. We observed hypercalcemia in our series of GSD I patients during acute metabolic decompensation. Therefore, we speculate that hypercalcemia should be considered as one of the problems of GSD I patients during acute attacks. It may be related with prolonged lactic acidosis or may be a pseudohypercalcemia due to hyperlipidemia that can be seen in GSD I patients with poor metabolic control.

A rare case of severe lactic acidosis in a preterm infant: lack of thiamine during total parenteral nutrition.

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is a revolution in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) care, but this therapy is not without problems. A 35-week-old, 1300 g female infant was transferred to our NICU because of bilious vomiting and feeding problems. When enteral feeding was started again, a severe condition similar to the previous one developed. On the 24th day, the patient underwent surgery with a diagnosis of Hirschprung's disease. One week before surgery, the parenteral solutions were composed without vitamins because intravenous vitamin supplements suitable for infants were not available. Thereafter, the patient suffered from severe hypoglycaemia, and sepsis started to develop, accompanied by a large anion gap and metabolic acidosis which is severe lactic acidosis refractory to massive doses of bicarbonate. The acidosis improved significantly when the patient was treated with thiamin. Although TPN is life saving in the NICU, meticulous attention must be paid while treating a patient with TPN, and all possible nutrients should be provided. In this report, a case of a preterm newborn requiring a prolonged period of TPN and complicated by serious lactic acidosis is presented and discussed.

Very long-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency which was accepted as infanticide.

Very-long-chain acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) dehydrogenase deficiency (VLCADD) (OMIM #201475) is an autosomal recessive disorder of fatty acid oxidation. Major phenotypic expressions are hypoketotic hypoglycemia, hepatomegaly, cardiomyopathy, myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, elevated creatinine kinase, and lipid infiltration of liver and muscle. At the same time, it is a rare cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or unexplained death in the neonatal period [1-4]. We report a patient with VLCADD whose parents were investigated for infanticide because her three previous siblings had suddenly died after normal deliveries.

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE): case report with a new mutation.

INTRODUCTION: Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is a rare autosomal recessive multisystem disorder characterized by severe gastrointestinal dysmotility and leads to cachexia, ptosis, external ophthalmoplegia, peripheral neuropathy, and leukoencephalopathy. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: It is often misdiagnosed as anorexia nervosa or intestinal pseudoobstuctions and are unnecessarily treated with surgery. It has been established that MNGIE is caused by mutations in the gene encoding thymidine phosphorylase, which lead to absolute or nearly complete loss of its catalytic activity, producing systemic accumulations of its substrates, thymidine and deoxyuridine. CONCLUSION: We present herein the clinical, neuroimaging, and molecular findings of a patient with MNGIE caused by a novel homozygous TYMP gene mutation (c.112G>T which convert codon 38 from glutamate to a stop codon [p.38E>X]).

Lipid apheresis applications in childhood: experience in the University Hospital of Gazi.

The most commonly encountered complications in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) are mainly cardiovascular in origin and the majority of cases unfortunately die due to this problem. LDL-apheresis is a proven therapeutic method in lowering this mortal risk. In this study we aimed to demonstrate the efficiency of LDL-apheresis performed by DALI or Cascade filtration on four pediatric patients with the diagnosis of homozygous FH. Applied LDL-apheresis techniques, side effects, laboratory results and cardiovascular follow-up are discussed in the light of current literature. Our study has shown once again that lipid apheresis treatment in children with homozygous FH is the most effective treatment. The number of childhood subjects in whom lipid apheresis is performed is quite insufficient. There are no studies that compare DALI with cascade filtration in childhood subjects in our knowledge. The view of this aspect, this study will contribute to literature.

Cholesterol screening in school children: is family history reliable to choose the ones to screen?

AIM: Hyperlipidemia is a major factor accompanying atherosclerosis. As the basis of atherosclerotic heart disease begins at early childhood, we aim to find out which children should be tested for hypercholesterolemia, what the high cholesterol level in children is and what cautions should be taken to avoid atherosclerosis. METHODS: The study was carried on 2096 school children (1043 male, 1053 female) in Ankara. Their mean age was 9.03 years. Demographic properties of the study group and their families were determined and the serum lipid levels of the subjects were obtained. The relation between these demographic properties and lipid levels were investigated. RESULTS: In 135 of the subjects' serum cholesterol level was >or=200 mg/dL and in 83 subjects serum LDL-cholesterol level was >or=130 mg/dL. Despite 64.4% of the subjects reported a family history of hyperlipidemia, no relations between family history and serum lipid levels were found. CONCLUSION: We suggest that regardless of family history, all children over 5 years should be screened for hyperlipidemia. Education about hyperlipidemia and precautions for its complications should be given to both children and families. The best and easiest way to reach children is to screen them at schools. School is also a good place for education of children about hyperlipidemia and risk factors.