Valor de los parámetros lipídicos y apoproteicos para la detección de hipercolesterolemia familiar en la infancia. Proyecto DECOPIN / Lipid and lipoprotein parameters for detection of familial hypercholesterolemia in childhood. The DECOPIN Project

Introducción: La hipercolesterolemia familiar (HF) infantil está infradiagnosticada y su diagnóstico no es fácil en la práctica clínica. El objetivo fue evaluar qué características clínicas, bioquímicas y de imagen vascular pueden ayudarnos a detectar a niños/as y adolescentes con hipercolesterolemia afectados de HF. Métodos: Doscientos veintidós niños y adolescentes de entre 4 y 18 años fueron reclutados para participar en un proyecto de detección precoz de HF (proyecto DECOPIN). La HF se diagnosticó por criterios genéticos o clínicos. Se definió hipercolesterolemia poligénica (HP) cuando el c-LDL >135mg/dl pero sin criterios clínicos ni genéticos de HF. Participantes con c-LDL < 135mg/dl se incluyeron en el grupo control (GC). Se recogieron la historia familiar, los datos antropométricos y las variables clínicas. Se analizaron parámetros bioquímicos y lipídicos. Se determinó el grosor íntima-media carotídeo (GIMc) y los tendones de Aquiles por ecografía. Resultados: Noventa y un niños fueron diagnosticados de HF y 23 de HP, y 108 como GC. El grupo HF presentó mayores concentraciones de CT, c-LDL, índice ApoB/ApoA1 e índice colesterol año. El c-HDL fue menor en grupo HF que en el GC. Si bien el c-LDL fue el parámetro más definitorio de HF, el índice ApoB/ApoA1 > 0,82 fue el que de forma aislada mostró mayor sensibilidad y especificad para predecir la presencia de mutación en el grupo de niños HF. El grosor de los tendones de Aquiles no mostró diferencias entre grupos. El GIMc fue mayor en los niños HF sin diferencias significativas. Conclusiones: Los niveles de c-LDL son el marcador de HF. Un índice ApoB/ApoA1 > 0,82 puede ser una herramienta útil para decidir el estudio genético en niños con sospecha de HF

Background: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in children is under-detected and is difficult to diagnose in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical, biochemical and vascular imaging variables in order to detect children and adolescents with FH. Methods: A total of 222 children aged 4-18 years old were recruited to participate in a project for the early detection of FH (The DECOPIN Project). They were distributed into 3groups: FH, if genetic study or clinical criteria were positive (n=91); Polygenic hypercholesterolaemia (PH) if LDL-Cholesterol >135mg/dL without FH criteria (n=23), and Control group (CG) if LDL-C <135mg/dL (n=108). Data were collected from family history, anthropometric data, and clinical variables. The usual biochemical parameters, including a complete lipid profile were analysed. The carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and thickness of Achilles tendons were determined using ultrasound in all participants. Results: A total of 91 children had a diagnosis of FH, 23 with PH, and 108 with CG. Children with FH had higher concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-C, ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, and cholesterol-year score, than the other groups. HDL-C was lower in the FH group than in the CG. Thickness of the Achilles tendon and cIMT did not show any differences between groups, although a greater cIMT trend was observed in the FH group. ApoB/ApoA1 ratio >0.82 was the parameter with the highest sensitivity and specificity to predict the presence of mutation in children with FH. Conclusions: Although LDL-C is the main biochemical parameter used to define FH, the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio (>0.82) may be a useful tool to identify children with FH and a positive mutation

Lipid and lipoprotein parameters for detection of familial hypercholesterolemia in childhood. The DECOPIN Project. / Valor de los parámetros lipídicos y apoproteicos para la detección de hipercolesterolemia familiar en la infancia. Proyecto DECOPIN.

BACKGROUND: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in children is under-detected and is difficult to diagnose in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical, biochemical and vascular imaging variables in order to detect children and adolescents with FH. METHODS: A total of 222 children aged 4-18 years old were recruited to participate in a project for the early detection of FH (The DECOPIN Project). They were distributed into 3groups: FH, if genetic study or clinical criteria were positive (n=91); Polygenic hypercholesterolaemia (PH) if LDL-Cholesterol >135mg/dL without FH criteria (n=23), and Control group (CG) if LDL-C <135mg/dL (n=108). Data were collected from family history, anthropometric data, and clinical variables. The usual biochemical parameters, including a complete lipid profile were analysed. The carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and thickness of Achilles tendons were determined using ultrasound in all participants. RESULTS: A total of 91 children had a diagnosis of FH, 23 with PH, and 108 with CG. Children with FH had higher concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-C, ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, and cholesterol-year score, than the other groups. HDL-C was lower in the FH group than in the CG. Thickness of the Achilles tendon and cIMT did not show any differences between groups, although a greater cIMT trend was observed in the FH group. ApoB/ApoA1 ratio >0.82 was the parameter with the highest sensitivity and specificity to predict the presence of mutation in children with FH. CONCLUSIONS: Although LDL-C is the main biochemical parameter used to define FH, the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio (>0.82) may be a useful tool to identify children with FH and a positive mutation.