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Increased inflammatory markers in children with familial hypercholesterolaemia
Author(s) -
Ueland T.,
Vissers M. N.,
Wiegman A.,
Rodenburg J.,
Hutten B.,
Gullestad L.,
Ose L.,
Rifai N.,
Ridker P. M.,
Kastelein J. J. P.,
Aukrust P.,
Semb A. G.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2006.01613.x
Subject(s) - neopterin , pravastatin , medicine , inflammation , c reactive protein , body mass index , placebo , endocrinology , gastroenterology , cholesterol , immunology , pathology , alternative medicine
Abstract Background While data are abundant on increased levels of inflammatory markers in adult patients with hypercholesterolaemia, such data in children are limited. Therefore, we sought to investigate the degree and character of inflammation in children with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) by measuring levels of neopterin, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L). Materials and methods In the present study, we compared the concentration of inflammatory markers in children suffering from heterozygous FH ( n = 207) with those in unaffected siblings ( n = 84). Furthermore, we investigated the effect of 2‐year treatment with pravastatin (20–40 mg qd) or placebo on plasma levels of those markers. Results Our main finding was that serum levels of neopterin and hsCRP were significantly higher in FH children compared with healthy siblings, whereas sCD40L was not. Body mass index and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significant independent predictors of hsCRP and neopterin. Furthermore, pravastatin therapy decreased neopterin, but not hsCRP and sCD40L, in the FH children, but these changes were not different from the placebo group. Conclusion These findings indicate low‐grade monocyte/macrophage hyperactivity in the early stages of atherogenesis, but our findings also suggest that inflammation as well as anti‐inflammatory effects of statins are less prominent features of atherosclerosis in FH children than in FH adults.