Revista chilena de pediatría
versión impresa ISSN 0370-4106
ESPINOZA G, ANIBAL; BAGES M, CATALINA; LE ROY O, CATALINA y CASTILLO D, CARLOS. Arterial intima-media thickness in healthy Chilean children using an ultrasonographic computerized technique. Rev. chil. pediatr. [online]. 2011, vol.82, n.1, pp. 29-34. ISSN 0370-4106. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0370-41062011000100004.
Introduction: Vascular endothelium is a target organ in metabolic syndrome. Ultrasound measurement of intimae-media thickness (IMT) is used in adults to predict cardiovascular risk, but normal values in children are unknown. Objective: To describe arterial intima-media thickness in healthy children, by means of an ultrasonographic technique and a specific software. Subjects and Methods: Seventy-four healthy children, 39 males, ages 5-15 y.o., body mass index (BMI) 10-85 percentile were selected from an upper-middle socioeconomic background. Subjects were grouped by age. Three measurements were carried out to each subject at the middle third of the right common carotid for maximal intima-media thickness using a Phillips iU22 ultrasound system; a 12-5 MHz lineal transducer and QLAB advanced quantification software, which includes a specific program for automated IMT measurements, were used. Weight, stature, BMI, and abdominal circumference were registered. Results: No significant differences in the IMT values according to age or gender were found. Median IMT was 0.41 mm (0.40-0.56 mm); 5 children presented IMT 0.50-0.56 mm (> 75th percentile). The median IMT for those children with abdominal circumference < 50th percentile was the same for those over 50th percentile (0.41 mm). Conclusions: Measurements of carotid intima-media thickness for healthy Chilean children were found to be in the expected range, in relation with adult known values.
Palabras clave : Arterial intima-media; thickness; ultrasonography; healthy children.