Inflammatory markers in prepubertal children and their associations with abdominal fat

Abstract Objective To evaluate the association between inflammatory markers and abdominal fat assessed by ultrasound in prepubertal children with and without excess weight. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 241 prepubertal children, 156 with obesity, 37 with overweight, and 48 with normal weight, aged five to ten years, who were followed at a research unit on Childhood Obesity from a teaching hospital belonging to a public health system. The concentration of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and C-reactive protein were assessed and regression analyses, considering outcome variables such as abdominal wall and intra-abdominal fat thickness measured by ultrasound, were performed. Results The findings highlighted an association between abdominal fat and inflammatory markers, even in children at this young age group. Subcutaneous fat showed a stronger association with inflammatory biomarkers compared to intra-abdominal fat when performing logistic regression, with a positive association between tumor necrosis factor-α and abdominal wall thickness equal to or greater than the 75th percentile in adjusted logistic regression (OR: 18.12; CI 95 %: 1.57: 209.55). Conclusions Abdominal wall fat, in contrast to what is often observed in adults, appears to have a greater impact on chronic inflammation related to excessive weight in very young children.

Inflammatory markers in prepubertal children and their associations with abdominal fat.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between inflammatory markers and abdominal fat assessed by ultrasound in prepubertal children with and without excess weight. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 241 prepubertal children, 156 with obesity, 37 with overweight, and 48 with normal weight, aged five to ten years, who were followed at a research unit on Childhood Obesity from a teaching hospital belonging to a public health system. The concentration of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and C-reactive protein were assessed and regression analyses, considering outcome variables such as abdominal wall and intra-abdominal fat thickness measured by ultrasound, were performed. RESULTS: The findings highlighted an association between abdominal fat and inflammatory markers, even in children at this young age group. Subcutaneous fat showed a stronger association with inflammatory biomarkers compared to intra-abdominal fat when performing logistic regression, with a positive association between tumor necrosis factor-α and abdominal wall thickness equal to or greater than the 75th percentile in adjusted logistic regression (OR: 18.12; CI 95 %: 1.57: 209.55). CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal wall fat, in contrast to what is often observed in adults, appears to have a greater impact on chronic inflammation related to excessive weight in very young children.

IGF-I and IGF Binding Protein-3 Generation Tests and Response to Growth Hormone in Children with Silver-Russell Syndrome.

Objectives. To evaluate, in children with Silver-Russell Syndrome, the response to the IGF-I and IGFBP-3 generation test and compare results to the growth response after 6 months of rhGH. Methods. Eight children (6 males), with a mean age of 5.71 ± 2.48 years and height SDS of -3.88 ± 1.28 received rhGH for 6 months. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were analyzed before and after 4 doses of rhGH. Results. The mean growth velocity (GV) before treatment was 5.28 ± 1.9 cm/year. GV increased after rhGH in five children to a mean GV of 10.3 ± 3.64 cm/year. Six children had normal basal IGF-I levels and two low levels. After 4 doses of rhGH, the IGF-I levels were normal in seven. There was no correlation between the growth response and the IGF-I generation test. Conclusions. Children with SRS have normal IGF-I generation test. There is no correlation between the generation test and the growth velocity after 6 months of rhGH.

Comparison between Actual and Perceived Height of Parents of Children with Short Stature and Controls.

Objectives. We investigate whether parents complaining of their children's short stature have misconception of their height. Methods. Parents were asked to report their own height and were then measured. We compared the difference between reported and actual height of parents of children with short stature (CSS) with that of parents coming for a well child care visit (WCC) and parents of children referred to the endocrinologist without short stature (Endo). The accuracy of reported height from short (below 25%) and tall (above 75%) parents was compared. Results. The CSS fathers were shorter than WCC (P < .01) fathers. The CSS mothers were shorter than the Endo (P < .01) and WCC (P < .001) mothers. There was no difference between reported and actual height when comparing the groups based on the reason for the visit or based on the parental height. Conclusions. Parents of CSS and short parents do not have a misconception of their height.

IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS generation test in Turner syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: The pathophysiology of the short stature in girls with Turner syndrome (TS) is not well understood. The "IGF-I generation test" is used to assess the sensitivity to growth hormone. We compared the biochemical response to four days of growth hormone of TS and controls. STUDY DESIGN: Pre-pubertal TS were recruited to participate in the study. Their siblings served as controls. IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS were measured before and 5 days after using hGH (0.05mg/kg/day). Student-t test was used to compare the differences in their responses. RESULTS: Eleven TS (mean age of 8.5+/-2.4) and 11 siblings (6 females and 5 males) (mean age of 7.0+/-2.0) participated in the study. The basal serum levels of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS were normal and not different between groups (p=0.62 for IGF-I, p=0.91 for IGFBP-3 and p=0.51 for ALS). The IGF-I generation test was positive in all controls and in 10/11 TS. The IGFBP-3 generation test was positive in 6/11 controls and 4/11 TS. After hGH the mean IGFBP-3 was lower in TS than in controls (p=0.08). The ALS response to hGH was not uniform between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The IGF-I and ALS generation test results were not different between controls and TS. The IGFBP-3 results were higher in the control group but more than 50% of tested children did not pass. The IGF-I/IGFBP-3 generation tests, as presently done, did not help in the understanding of the short stature in TS. The use of different GH dosages and number of doses need to be investigated.

The correlation of the IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and ALS generation test to height velocity after 6 months of recombinant growth hormone therapy in girls with Turner syndrome.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Girls with Turner syndrome (TS) have short stature and benefit from growth hormone therapy (hGH). Some TS present a significant change in height velocity in response to hGH while others have only a mild increment. Our objective was to correlate the response to hGH (height velocity after 6 months of therapy) to biochemical data prior to and after the beginning of hGH to try to define a tool to predict the response to hGH. METHODS: Thirteen TS participated in the study (ages 3.5-14 years). Levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were measured before and 5, 30 and 90 days after starting hGH (0.05 mg/kg/day), ALS levels were measured only prior and after 5 days. RESULTS: The mean height velocity (+/-SD) increased from 4.27 (+/-1.18) cm/year to 8.46 (+/-2.17) cm/year (p=0.0001). There was no correlation between the height velocity encountered and the expected height velocity using published mathematical models. Basal ALS values correlated to height velocity SDS and IGF-I and IGFBP-3, after 90 days, correlated to height velocity. Most of the data was too scattered to be used individually for each patient. CONCLUSIONS: Even though we observed a relationship between biochemical markers and height velocity in TS treated with hGH, the response to hGH therapy in this condition is highly variable.