Serum cholesterol and its components (high, low & very low density lipoproteins) in children of patients of myocardial infarction.

ABSTRACT

Total serum cholesterol and its components high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein were estimated in serum of 409 children (212 males and 197 females) of 189 patients with myocardial infarction (MI). The patients were divided into 2 groups--1. having MI before the age of 40 years and 2. having it after 40 years. Three hundred and nine children were of parents belonging to group 1 and 100 children were of parents from group 2. Lipid patterns of these children were compared. Comparison was also carried out in subgroups made as per the age and sex of the parents. It was concluded that the disease is more likely to transfer from young patients to their children. Both paternal as well as maternal effects exist in young patients of MI but the paternal effect is dominant. In children of parents having myocardial infarct at a latter age, maternal effect is predominant. The lipid patterns of male and female case-children were also compared with the respective controls. More significant differences in the levels were observed in male case-children indicating that the disease is more likely to transfer in male case-children.