Risk of Atherosclerosis in Patients with Ataxia Telangiectasia

Evaluate the nutritional status, plasma concentration of vitamin E and markers of cardiovascular risk in ataxia telangiectasia (AT) patients.

Cross-sectional study with 13 patients with AT and 22 healthy controls, evaluating the following factors: nutritional status, food intake, lipid profile, plasma concentration of vitamin E, malondialdehyde and high sensitivity C-reactive protein, linking them with atherosclerosis risk in AT patients.

Average age was 14.6 in the AT group, 30.8% were malnourished and 23.1% had stunting. A greater impairment of lean body mass was found in these patients. Concentrations of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (CT), LDL-c, non-HDL cholesterol (NHDL-c) were significantly higher in patients and HDL-c, lower. Vitamin E/total lipids and vitamin E/TG ratios were lower in the AT group, and significant inverse correlation between these ratios and NHDL-c, CT/HDL-c, and LDL-c/HDL-c, log TG/HDL-c was observed in the AT group. Alanine aminotransferase correlated directly and significantly with NHDL-c, CT/HDL-c and LDL-c/HDL-c, in patients.

The alterations of lipid metabolism biomarkers suggestive of atherosclerotic risk of male AT patients coupled with lower vitamin E/total lipids ratio and low lean body mass may complicate the clinical course of the disease and emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary care, routine monitoring of cardiovascular biomarkers and appropriate nutritional guidance.