Copyright © 1998 by the European Society of Cardiology.
High incidence of dyslipidaemia in the offspring of Greek men with premature coronary artery disease
a Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Nikea, Piraeus
b Department of Cardiology, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece
c Biochemistry Laboratory, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece
accepted September 5, 1997
Aim
The present study aimed to assess the incidence and type of lipid disorders in the offspring of young Greek coronary patients.
Methods
One hundred and ninety-three children and youngsters were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of 104 children whose fathers had sustained a myocardial infarction before the age of 55 years. Eighty-nine young subjects matched for age, gender, dietary and smoking habits without a familial history of coronary artery disease served as controls (group B). Total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) were measured in the children and the affected fathers.
Results
Fifty-three percent of the offspring of young coronary patients had elevated total cholesterol or elevated triglycerides or decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol or a combination, while the 80·4% of the affected fathers had lipid disorders. The distribution of lipid disorders in the children bore a striking resemblance to those seen in their affected fathers and there was a significant correlation between offspring–father total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and lipoprotein(a). When excess lipoprotein(a) was added to the lipid disorders the incidence of dyslipidaemia in the offspring of the affected individuals was increased to 63·5%.
Conclusions
Dyslipidaemia is very common in the offspring of Greek men with premature coronary artery disease; this occurrence emphasizes the need always to evaluate the lipid profile in these children. The detection of dyslipidaemia necessitates the early institution of preventive measures with the expectation that the incidence of cardiovascular disease will decrease later in life.
Key Words: Family history • lipoprotein(a) • offspring • premature coronary artery disease • total cholesterol
f1 Correspondence: Loukianos Rallidis, MD, 74 Thermopylon, Argyroupolis 16451, Athens, Greece.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J De Sutter, D De Bacquer, K Kotseva, S Sans, K Pyorala, D Wood, G De Backer, and on behalf of the EUROASPIRE II study group Screening of family members of patients with premature coronary heart disease: Results from the EUROASPIRE II family survey Eur. Heart J., February 1, 2003; 24(3): 249 - 257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|