[Lipoprotein(a) in children with hypercholesterolemia as a marker of the familial history of cardiovascular risk. The Working Group on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Childhood and Adolescence]. / Lipoproteína (a) en niños con hipercolesterolemia, como marcador de antecedentes familiares de riesgo cardiovascular. Grupo de Trabajo sobre Factores de Riesgo Cardiovascular en la Infancia y Adolescencia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the levels of lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) as a marker of familiar history of cardiovascular risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have studied 176 children and adolescents between the ages of 3 and 18 years with hypercholesterolemia. In these children we determined Lp(a) levels and collected the family history concerning cardiovascular risk factors (hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease under 55 years of age). RESULTS: Of the cases studied, 67.04% had a family history of cardiovascular risk. In this group, levels of Lp(a) were significantly higher than in the group without a family history of cardiovascular risk. Lp(a) levels higher than 30 mg/dl were found in 3.44% of the patients without a family history of cardiovascular risk in contrast to 28,43% and 37.5% of the cases with familiar history of hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of lipoprotein (a) in children and adolescents with hypercholesterolemia are a marker of family history of cardiovascular disease and hypercholesterolemia.