Hemorheological changes in children with familial hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

In order to find out whether hemorheological alterations precede the atherosclerotic lesions in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), we studied the lipidic and hemorheological profile of 40 children (18 males and 22 females) with heterozygous FH but without vascular atherosclerotic lesions demonstrable on a carotid ultrasound doppler-duplex, and in a well-matched control group. When compared with the control group FH children showed increased erythrocyte aggregation both at stasis (EAM₀) (4.9 ± 1.1 vs 3.6 ± 1.0) and at low shear rate (EAM₁) (8.1 ± 1.4 vs 6.9 ± 1.4; p<0.001), and increased plasma viscosity (PV) (1.20 ± 0.07 vs 1.16 ± 0.04; p<0.01). Other rheological parameters determined, fibrinogen (Fbg) and blood viscosity (BV), did not show any statistical differences.

The fact that erythrocyte aggregation and plasma viscosity are increased in FH children, even without any concomitant statistical increase in fibrinogen, suggests that the dyslipemia itself can contribute to the rheological alterations. On the other hand, the fact that the above mentioned alterations appear prior to the development of the vascular lesion suggests that they could favour the development of the atherosclerotic process.