[Proinflammatory state in obese children]. / Estado proinflamatorio en niños obesos.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a chronic disease that affects adults as well as children and is associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. One of the reasons for the presence of low-grade inflammation in these patients could be that adipose tissue of the obese produces proin flammatory molecules that favor the development of atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE: To determine serum levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) and high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), in an obese chil dren population compared to a control group, also to analyze the correlation of these molecules with the anthropometric and metabolic variables. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A cross-sectional, observational study was carried out on 37 obese children, aged 8 to 12 years, and 20 children with normal weight. Serum levels of sCD40L, MCP-1, IL-6, TNF-α and hsCRP were determined. Data were expressed as the median and interquartil range and Spearman coefficient was used to investigate correlations between variables. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, obese children presented significantly higher values of sCD40L, MCP-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and hsCRP than control group. Body mass index and waist circumference correlated positively with sCD40L and MCP-1. CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of the studied molecules studied suggest the presence of low-grade inflammation associated with obesity in this population.

Estado proinflamatorio en niños obesos / Proinflammatory state in obese children

INTRODUCCIÓN: La presencia de un estado de inflamación de bajo grado en niños obesos, se debería, entre otros factores, a que el tejido adiposo de los obesos produce moléculas proinflamatorias que contribuyen al desarrollo de aterosclerosis. OBJETIVO: Determinar en una población de niños obesos los niveles séricos de ligando CD-40 soluble (sCD40L), proteína quimioatractante de monocitos 1 (MCP-1), interleuquina 6 (IL-6), Factor de Necrosis tumoral a (TNF-a) y Proteína C Reactiva ultrasensible (PCR-us), comparados con un grupo control y analizar la correlación de estas moléculas con las variables antropométricas y metabólicas. PACIENTES Y MÉTODO: Estudio transversal de 37 niños obesos de 8 a 12 años y 20 niños con peso normal. A todos los pacientes se les realizó una historia clínica consignando edad, peso, talla, IMC, circunferencia de cintura, estadios de Tanner y antecedentes familiares. Se determinaron los niveles séricos de sCD40L, MCP-1, IL-6, TNF-a y PCR-us mediante ELISA, PCR-us por quimioluminiscencia, glucemia, insulina plasmática, perfil lipídico y se calculó el índice HOMA. Los datos se expresaron como la mediana y rango intercuartil y se utilizó el coeficiente de Spearman para investigar las correlaciones entre variables. RESULTADOS: Los niños obesos presentaron valores significativamente mayores de sCD40L, MCP-1, IL-6, TNF-a, PCR-us que los niños controles. El índice de masa corporal y la circunferencia de cintura se correlacionaron positivamente con sCD40L y MCP-1. CONCLUSIÓN: Los niveles elevados de las moléculas estudiadas sugieren la presencia de inflamación de bajo grado asociada a obesidad en esta población.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a chronic disease that affects adults as well as children and is associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. One of the reasons for the presence of low-grade inflammation in these patients could be that adipose tissue of the obese produces proin flammatory molecules that favor the development of atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE: To determine serum levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-Α) and high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), in an obese chil dren population compared to a control group, also to analyze the correlation of these molecules with the anthropometric and metabolic variables. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A cross-sectional, observational study was carried out on 37 obese children, aged 8 to 12 years, and 20 children with normal weight. Serum levels of sCD40L, MCP-1, IL-6, TNF-Α and hsCRP were determined. Data were expressed as the median and interquartil range and Spearman coefficient was used to investigate correlations between variables. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, obese children presented significantly higher values of sCD40L, MCP-1, IL-6, TNF-Α, and hsCRP than control group. Body mass index and waist circumference correlated positively with sCD40L and MCP-1. CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of the studied molecules studied suggest the presence of low-grade inflammation associated with obesity in this population.