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Altered serum lipid profile after systemic infection in children: risk factor for CHD?

E Pesonen1, J Rapola, J Viikari

  • 1Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland.

European Heart Journal
|December 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Systemic infections can cause pre-atherosclerotic changes in children's coronary arteries. Repeated infections may increase atherosclerosis risk by lowering high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular pathology
  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Lipid metabolism

Background:

  • Systemic infections are linked to coronary artery intimal thickening, especially in infants.
  • Intimal thickening is more severe in cases with infection at death.
  • Pre-atherosclerotic changes are suggested by topography, male predominance, and family history of coronary heart disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between systemic infections and coronary artery intimal thickening in children.
  • To examine the impact of infections on serum lipid profiles, particularly high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
  • To assess the potential of repeated infections as a risk factor for atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study analyzing intimal thickening in coronary arteries of infants and children.
  • Serum lipid profiles were analyzed, focusing on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.
  • Correlation between infection status at death, intimal thickening severity, and lipid profiles was examined.

Main Results:

  • Systemic infections are associated with intimal thickening of coronary arteries.
  • Intimal thickening was more pronounced in infants with infection at death.
  • Serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration decreased during infection and convalescence.

Conclusions:

  • Systemic infections contribute to pre-atherosclerotic changes in the coronary arteries of children.
  • Repeated infections may represent a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis development.
  • The observed decrease in HDL cholesterol during infections highlights a potential mechanism linking infection to atherosclerosis.

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