Vascular reactivity and proinflammatory cytokines in the obese children

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between inflammatory markers and the preatherosclerotic marker-flow mediated dilation (FMD). Thirty obese children (10-16 years old) and twenty controls were involved. The plasma inflammatory markers: CRP, fibrinogen, leptin, TNF-α, IL-6 were measured. Ultrasounds were used for FMD measurement, chemiluminescence for monocyte respiratory burst (RB), ELISA for C peptide and spectrophotometry for usual parameters. In the obese children versus the lean ones, the FMD was lower (p<0.001), the plasma values for TNF-α-were similar (1.68 pg/mL vs 1.54 pg/mL), while plasma IL-6 was increased (4.01 pg/mL vs. 2.02 pg/mL, p<0.05). These cytokines were negatively correlated with FMD (r=-0.42, p<0.05) and positively with RB (r=50, p<0.05). The FMD was negatively correlated (p<0.05) with the values for diastolic blood pressure (r =-0.47), waist circumference (r =-0.55), uric acid (r =-0.47) and atherosclerotic index (r =-0.37). In conclusion, in the obese children, inflammation, dyslipidaemia, blood pressure and oxidative stress act in a cluster reducing the elasticity of the vessel walls.