Skip to main content
Log in

Increased intima-media thickness of the carotid artery in childhood: a systematic review of observational studies

  • Review
  • Published:
European Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in adults may be caused by a childhood exposure to cardiovascular risk factors. We systematically reviewed observational studies to determine whether obesity, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), dyslipidemia (DL), hypertension (HT), and chronic renal failure (CRF) are associated with increased cIMT in children and adolescent patients compared with control subjects. We performed a PubMed literature search from January 1986 to February 2010. Two reviewers separately verified the inclusion criteria of relevant studies for the objective of the review. The data extracted in the patient and control groups were sample size, age, gender, cIMT measurement methods, cIMT values, and statistical analysis results. From 348 citations, 65 cross-sectional studies (2 cited twice) with case–control design met the inclusion criteria: 26 in obesity, 14 in IDDM, 11 in DL, 8 in HT, and 8 in CRF. cIMT measurement protocols varied according to the studies, with measurements being performed on the common carotid artery in 65/67 cases and on the far wall in 57/67 cases. From the 67 studies cited, 22/26 reported a significantly increased cIMT in obese children and adolescents compared with the control group, 8/14 in IDDM patients, 10/11 in DL patients, 7/8 in HT patients, and 8/8 in CRF patients. Conclusion: Despite the heterogeneity of ultrasound measurement methods, cIMT was significantly increased in 55 out of the 67 cited studies, confirming early vascular damages in pediatric populations with an increased future risk for vascular diseases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abaci A, Tascilar ME, Saritas T et al (2009) Threshold value of subepicardial adipose tissue to detect insulin resistance in obese children. Int J Obes Lond 33:440–446

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Adolphe A, Cook LS, Huang X (2009) A cross-sectional study of intima-media thickness, ethnicity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular risk in 2268 study participants. Mayo Clin Proc 84:221–228

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Aggoun Y, Bonnet D, Sidi D et al (2000) Arterial mechanical changes in children with familial hypercholesterolemia. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 20:2070–2075

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Aggoun Y, Farpour-Lambert NJ, Marchand LM et al (2008) Impaired endothelial and smooth muscle functions and arterial stiffness appear before puberty in obese children and are associated with elevated ambulatory blood pressure. Eur Heart J 29:792–799

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Ahluwalia N, Drouet L, Ruidavets JB et al (2006) Metabolic syndrome is associated with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in a French population-based sample. Atherosclerosis 186:345–353

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Amarenco P, Labreuche J, Touboul PJ (2008) High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and risk of stroke and carotid atherosclerosis: a systematic review. Atherosclerosis 196:489–496

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Atabek ME, Kurtoglu S, Pirgon O et al (2006) Arterial wall thickening and stiffening in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 74:33–40

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Atabek ME, Pirgon O, Kivrak AS (2007) Evidence for association between insulin resistance and premature carotid atherosclerosis in childhood obesity. Pediatr Res 61:345–349

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Baker JL, Olsen LW, Sorensen TI (2007) Childhood body-mass index and the risk of coronary heart disease in adulthood. N Engl J Med 357:2329–2337

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bakkaloglu SA, Soylemezoglu O, Buyan N et al (2006) Adiponectin levels and arteriosclerotic risk factors in pediatric renal transplant recipients. Pediatr Transplant 10:187–192

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Basiratnia M, Fazel M, Lotfi M et al (2010) Subclinical atherosclerosis and related risk factors in renal transplant recipients. Pediatr Nephrol 25:343–348

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Beauloye V, Zech F, Tran HT et al (2007) Determinants of early atherosclerosis in obese children and adolescents. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 92:3025–3032

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Berenson GS, Srinivasan SR, Bao W et al (1998) Association between multiple cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in children and young adults. The Bogalusa Heart Study. N Engl J Med 338:1650–1656

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Bilginer Y, Ozaltin F, Basaran C et al (2007) Carotid intima-media thickness in children and young adults with renal transplant: internal carotid artery vs. common carotid artery. Pediatr Transplant 11:888–894

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bland J, Skordalaki A, Emery JL (1986) Early intimal lesions in the common carotid artery. Cardiovasc Res 20:863–868

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bots ML, Hoes AW, Koudstaal PJ et al (1997) Common carotid intima-media thickness and risk of stroke and myocardial infarction: the Rotterdam Study. Circulation 96:1432–1437

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Briese S, Wiesner S, Will JC et al (2006) Arterial and cardiac disease in young adults with childhood-onset end-stage renal disease—impact of calcium and vitamin D therapy. Nephrol Dial Transplant 21:1906–1914

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Chambless LE, Folsom AR, Clegg LX et al (2000) Carotid wall thickness is predictive of incident clinical stroke: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Am J Epidemiol 151:478–487

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Chen X, Wang Y (2008) Tracking of blood pressure from childhood to adulthood: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Circulation 117:3171–3180

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Civilibal M, Caliskan S, Oflaz H et al (2007) Traditional and “new” cardiovascular risk markers and factors in pediatric dialysis patients. Pediatr Nephrol 22:1021–1029

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. De Lima JJ, Vieira ML, Viviani LF et al (2002) Long-term impact of renal transplantation on carotid artery properties and on ventricular hypertrophy in end-stage renal failure patients. Nephrol Dial Transplant 17:645–651

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Delucchi A, Dinamarca H, Gainza H et al (2008) Carotid intima-media thickness as a cardiovascular risk marker in pediatric end-stage renal disease patients on dialysis and in renal transplantation. Transplant Proc 40:3244–3246

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Demircioglu F, Kocyigit A, Arslan N et al (2008) Intima-media thickness of carotid artery and susceptibility to atherosclerosis in obese children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 47:68–75

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Di SG, Pacileo G, Del Giudice EM et al (2006) Abnormal myocardial deformation properties in obese, non-hypertensive children: an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, standard echocardiographic, and strain rate imaging study. Eur Heart J 27:2689–2695

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Dursun I, Poyrazoglu HM, Gunduz Z et al (2009) The relationship between circulating endothelial microparticles and arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis in children with chronic kidney disease. Nephrol Dial Transplant 24:2511–2518

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Giannini C, de GT, Scarinci A et al (2008) Obese related effects of inflammatory markers and insulin resistance on increased carotid intima media thickness in pre-pubertal children. Atherosclerosis 197:448–456

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Gil TY, Sung CY, Shim SS et al (2008) Intima-media thickness and pulse wave velocity in hypertensive adolescents. J Korean Med Sci 23:35–40

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Glowinska-Olszewska B, Tolwinska J, Urban M (2007) Relationship between endothelial dysfunction, carotid artery intima media thickness and circulating markers of vascular inflammation in obese hypertensive children and adolescents. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 20:1125–1136

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Glowinska-Olszewska B, Urban M, Urban B et al (2007) The association of early atherosclerosis and retinopathy in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: preliminary report. Acta Diabetol 44:131–137

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Gonzalez-Enriquez GV, Rubio-Benitez MI, Garcia-Gallegos V et al (2008) Contribution of TNF-308A and CCL2-2518A to carotid intima-media thickness in obese mexican children and adolescents. Arch Med Res 39:753–759

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Groothoff JW, Lilien MR, van de Kar NC et al (2005) Cardiovascular disease as a late complication of end-stage renal disease in children. Pediatr Nephrol 20:374–379

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Guardamagna O, Abello F, Saracco P et al (2009) Endothelial activation, inflammation and premature atherosclerosis in children with familial dyslipidemia. Atherosclerosis 207:471–475

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Guardamagna O, Restagno G, Rolfo E et al (2009) The type of LDLR gene mutation predicts cardiovascular risk in children with familial hypercholesterolemia. J Pediatr 155:199–204

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Gunczler P, Lanes R, Lopez E et al (2002) Cardiac mass and function, carotid artery intima-media thickness and lipoprotein (a) levels in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus of short duration. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 15:181–186

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Harrington J, Pena AS, Gent R et al (2010) Aortic intima media thickness is an early marker of atherosclerosis in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. J Pediatr 156:237–241

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Heilman K, Zilmer M, Zilmer K et al (2009) Arterial stiffness, carotid artery intima-media thickness and plasma myeloperoxidase level in children with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 84:168–173

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Holman RL, McGill HC Jr, Strong JP et al (1958) The natural history of atherosclerosis: the early aortic lesions as seen in New Orleans in the middle of the of the 20th century. Am J Pathol 34:209–235

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Iannuzzi A, Licenziati MR, Acampora C et al (2008) Carotid artery wall hypertrophy in children with metabolic syndrome. J Hum Hypertens 22:83–88

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Iannuzzi A, Licenziati MR, Acampora C et al (2006) Carotid artery stiffness in obese children with the metabolic syndrome. Am J Cardiol 97:528–531

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Iannuzzi A, Licenziati MR, Acampora C et al (2004) Increased carotid intima-media thickness and stiffness in obese children. Diab Care 27:2506–2508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. del Iglesias SA, Bots ML, Grobbee DE et al (2002) Carotid intima-media thickness at different sites: relation to incident myocardial infarction; the Rotterdam study. Eur Heart J 23:934–940

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Jankowski V, Meyer AA, Schlattmann P et al (2007) Increased uridine adenosine tetraphosphate concentrations in plasma of juvenile hypertensives. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 27:1776–1781

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Jarvisalo MJ, Jartti L, Nanto-Salonen K et al (2001) Increased aortic intima-media thickness: a marker of preclinical atherosclerosis in high-risk children. Circulation 104:2943–2947

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Jarvisalo MJ, Putto-Laurila A, Jartti L et al (2002) Carotid artery intima-media thickness in children with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes 51:493–498

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Kapiotis S, Holzer G, Schaller G et al (2006) A proinflammatory state is detectable in obese children and is accompanied by functional and morphological vascular changes. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 26:2541–2546

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Karpoff L, Vinet A, Schuster I et al (2009) Abnormal vascular reactivity at rest and exercise in obese boys. Eur J Clin Invest 39:94–102

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Kavey RE, Allada V, Daniels SR et al (2006) Cardiovascular risk reduction in high-risk pediatric patients: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Expert Panel on Population and Prevention Science; the Councils on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, Epidemiology and Prevention, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism, High Blood Pressure Research, Cardiovascular Nursing, and the Kidney in Heart Disease; and the Interdisciplinary Working Group on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research: endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Circulation 114:2710–2738

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Kelishadi R, Cook SR, Amra B et al (2009) Factors associated with insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among youths. Atherosclerosis 204:538–543

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Krantz JS, Mack WJ, Hodis HN et al (2004) Early onset of subclinical atherosclerosis in young persons with type 1 diabetes. J Pediatr 145:452–457

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Krebs A, Schmidt-Trucksass A, Alt J et al (2009) Synergistic effects of elevated systolic blood pressure and hypercholesterolemia on carotid intima-media thickness in children and adolescents. Pediatr Cardiol 30:1131–1136

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Labreuche J, Touboul PJ, Amarenco P (2009) Plasma triglyceride levels and risk of stroke and carotid atherosclerosis: a systematic review of the epidemiological studies. Atherosclerosis 203:331–345

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Lande MB, Carson NL, Roy J et al (2006) Effects of childhood primary hypertension on carotid intima media thickness: a matched controlled study. Hypertension 48:40–44

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Lavrencic A, Kosmina B, Keber I et al (1996) Carotid intima-media thickness in young patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Heart 76:321–325

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Li S, Chen W, Srinivasan SR et al (2003) Childhood cardiovascular risk factors and carotid vascular changes in adulthood: the Bogalusa Heart Study. JAMA 290:2271–2276

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Litwin M, Niemirska A (2009) Intima-media thickness measurements in children with cardiovascular risk factors. Pediatr Nephrol 24:707–719

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Litwin M, Niemirska A, Sladowska J et al (2006) Left ventricular hypertrophy and arterial wall thickening in children with essential hypertension. Pediatr Nephrol 21:811–819

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Litwin M, Trelewicz J, Wawer Z et al (2004) Intima-media thickness and arterial elasticity in hypertensive children: controlled study. Pediatr Nephrol 19:767–774

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Litwin M, Wuhl E, Jourdan C et al (2008) Evolution of large-vessel arteriopathy in paediatric patients with chronic kidney disease. Nephrol Dial Transplant 23:2552–2557

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Litwin M, Wuhl E, Jourdan C et al (2005) Altered morphologic properties of large arteries in children with chronic renal failure and after renal transplantation. J Am Soc Nephrol 16:1494–1500

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Lorenz MW, Markus HS, Bots ML et al (2007) Prediction of clinical cardiovascular events with carotid intima-media thickness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Circulation 115:459–467

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Mancini MC (2009) Metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents—criteria for diagnosis. Diabetol Metab Syndr 1:20

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Mangge H, Almer G, Haj-Yahya S et al (2008) Preatherosclerosis and adiponectin subfractions in obese adolescents. Obes Silver Spring 16:2578–2584

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Mangge H, Schauenstein K, Stroedter L et al (2004) Low grade inflammation in juvenile obesity and type 1 diabetes associated with early signs of atherosclerosis. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diab 112:378–382

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Martino F, Loffredo L, Carnevale R et al (2008) Oxidative stress is associated with arterial dysfunction and enhanced intima-media thickness in children with hypercholesterolemia: the potential role of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase. Pediatrics 122:e648–e655

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. McGill HC Jr, McMahan CA, Herderick EE et al (2000) Effects of coronary heart disease risk factors on atherosclerosis of selected regions of the aorta and right coronary artery. PDAY Research Group. Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 20:836–845

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Meyer AA, Kundt G, Steiner M et al (2006) Impaired flow-mediated vasodilation, carotid artery intima-media thickening, and elevated endothelial plasma markers in obese children: the impact of cardiovascular risk factors. Pediatrics 117:1560–1567

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Mimoun E, Aggoun Y, Pousset M et al (2008) Association of arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction with metabolic syndrome in obese children. J Pediatr 153:65–70

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Mitsnefes MM (2005) Cardiovascular disease in children with chronic kidney disease. Adv Chron Kidney Dis 12:397–405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Mitsnefes MM, Kimball TR, Kartal J et al (2005) Cardiac and vascular adaptation in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease: role of calcium–phosphorus metabolism. J Am Soc Nephrol 16:2796–2803

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Mitsnefes MM, Kimball TR, Witt SA et al (2004) Abnormal carotid artery structure and function in children and adolescents with successful renal transplantation. Circulation 110:97–101

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Miura K, Daviglus ML, Dyer AR et al (2001) Relationship of blood pressure to 25-year mortality due to coronary heart disease, cardiovascular diseases, and all causes in young adult men: the Chicago Heart Association Detection Project in Industry. Arch Intern Med 161:1501–1508

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Morrison KM, Dyal L, Conner W et al (2010) Cardiovascular risk factors and non-invasive assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis in youth. Atherosclerosis 208:501–505

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. O’Leary DH, Polak JF, Kronmal RA et al (1999) Carotid-artery intima and media thickness as a risk factor for myocardial infarction and stroke in older adults. Cardiovascular Health Study Collaborative Research Group. N Engl J Med 340:14–22

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Oh J, Wunsch R, Turzer M et al (2002) Advanced coronary and carotid arteriopathy in young adults with childhood-onset chronic renal failure. Circulation 106:100–105

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Pacifico L, Cantisani V, Anania C et al (2009) Serum uric acid and its association with metabolic syndrome and carotid atherosclerosis in obese children. Eur J Endocrinol 160:45–52

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Pacifico L, Cantisani V, Ricci P et al (2008) Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and carotid atherosclerosis in children. Pediatr Res 63:423–427

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Pall D, Settakis G, Katona E et al (2003) Increased common carotid artery intima media thickness in adolescent hypertension: results from the Debrecen Hypertension study. Cerebrovasc Dis 15:167–172

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Parikh A, Sochett EB, McCrindle BW et al (2000) Carotid artery distensibility and cardiac function in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. J Pediatr 137:465–469

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Pauciullo P, Iannuzzi A, Sartorio R et al (1994) Increased intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery in hypercholesterolemic children. Arterioscler Thromb 14:1075–1079

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Pignoli P, Tremoli E, Poli A et al (1986) Intimal plus medial thickness of the arterial wall: a direct measurement with ultrasound imaging. Circulation 74:1399–1406

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  81. Pilz S, Horejsi R, Moller R et al (2005) Early atherosclerosis in obese juveniles is associated with low serum levels of adiponectin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:4792–4796

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Poyrazoglu HM, Dusunsel R, Yikilmaz A et al (2007) Carotid artery thickness in children and young adults with end stage renal disease. Pediatr Nephrol 22:109–116

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Rabago RR, Gomez-Diaz RA, Tanus HJ et al (2007) Carotid intima-media thickness in pediatric type 1 diabetic patients. Diab Care 30:2599–2602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  84. Raitakari OT, Juonala M, Kahonen M et al (2003) Cardiovascular risk factors in childhood and carotid artery intima-media thickness in adulthood: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study. JAMA 290:2277–2283

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  85. Reinehr T, Kiess W, de SG et al (2006) Intima media thickness in childhood obesity: relations to inflammatory marker, glucose metabolism, and blood pressure. Metabolism 55:113–118

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Roh EJ, Lim JW, Ko KO et al (2007) A useful predictor of early atherosclerosis in obese children: serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. J Korean Med Sci 22:192–197

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  87. Saygili A, Barutcu O, Cengiz N et al (2002) Carotid intima media thickness and left ventricular changes in children with end-stage renal disease. Transplant Proc 34:2073–2075

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  88. Schwab KO, Doerfer J, Krebs A et al (2007) Early atherosclerosis in childhood type 1 diabetes: role of raised systolic blood pressure in the absence of dyslipidaemia. Eur J Pediatr 166:541–548

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Scuteri A, Najjar SS, Muller DC et al (2004) Metabolic syndrome amplifies the age-associated increases in vascular thickness and stiffness. J Am Coll Cardiol 43:1388–1395

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  90. Shroff RC, Donald AE, Hiorns MP et al (2007) Mineral metabolism and vascular damage in children on dialysis. J Am Soc Nephrol 18:2996–3003

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  91. Singh TP, Groehn H, Kazmers A (2003) Vascular function and carotid intimal-medial thickness in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Am Coll Cardiol 41:661–665

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Sorof JM, Alexandrov AV, Garami Z et al (2003) Carotid ultrasonography for detection of vascular abnormalities in hypertensive children. Pediatr Nephrol 18:1020–1024

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  93. Stabouli S, Kotsis V, Papamichael C et al (2005) Adolescent obesity is associated with high ambulatory blood pressure and increased carotid intimal-medial thickness. J Pediatr 147:651–656

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  94. Stabouli S, Kotsis V, Toumanidis S et al (2005) White-coat and masked hypertension in children: association with target-organ damage. Pediatr Nephrol 20:1151–1155

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  95. Stakos DA, Schuster DP, Sparks EA et al (2005) Cardiovascular effects of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children. Angiology 56:311–317

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  96. Stary HC (2000) Lipid and macrophage accumulations in arteries of children and the development of atherosclerosis. Am J Clin Nutr 72:1297S–1306S

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  97. Suys B, de Beeck LO, Rooman R et al (2007) Impact of oxidative stress on the endothelial dysfunction of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: protection by superoxide dismutase? Pediatr Res 62:456–461

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  98. Toledo-Corral CM, Ventura EE, Hodis HN et al (2009) Persistence of the metabolic syndrome and its influence on carotid artery intima media thickness in overweight Latino children. Atherosclerosis 206:594–598

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  99. Tonstad S, Joakimsen O, Stensland-Bugge E et al (1996) Risk factors related to carotid intima-media thickness and plaque in children with familial hypercholesterolemia and control subjects. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 16:984–991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  100. Touboul PJ, Hennerici MG, Meairs S et al (2007) Mannheim carotid intima-media thickness consensus (2004–2006). An update on behalf of the Advisory Board of the 3rd and 4th Watching the Risk Symposium, 13th and 15th European Stroke Conferences, Mannheim, Germany, 2004, and Brussels, Belgium, 2006. Cerebrovasc Dis 23:75–80

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  101. Touboul PJ, Labreuche J, Vicaut E et al (2009) Country-based reference values and impact of cardiovascular risk factors on carotid intima-media thickness in a French population: the ‘Paroi Arterielle et Risque Cardio-Vasculaire’ (PARC) study. Cerebrovasc Dis 27:361–367

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  102. Tounian P, Aggoun Y, Dubern B et al (2001) Presence of increased stiffness of the common carotid artery and endothelial dysfunction in severely obese children: a prospective study. Lancet 358:1400–1404

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  103. Tyrrell PN, Beyene J, Feldman BM et al (2010) Rheumatic disease and carotid intima-media thickness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 30:1014–1026

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  104. Tzou WS, Douglas PS, Srinivasan SR et al (2005) Increased subclinical atherosclerosis in young adults with metabolic syndrome: the Bogalusa Heart Study. J Am Coll Cardiol 46:457–463

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  105. Urbina EM, Kimball TR, McCoy CE et al (2009) Youth with obesity and obesity-related type 2 diabetes mellitus demonstrate abnormalities in carotid structure and function. Circulation 119:2913–2919

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  106. Urbina EM, Williams RV, Alpert BS et al (2009) Noninvasive assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis in children and adolescents: recommendations for standard assessment for clinical research: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Hypertension 54:919–950

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  107. van Summeren MJ, Hameleers JM, Schurgers LJ et al (2008) Circulating calcification inhibitors and vascular properties in children after renal transplantation. Pediatr Nephrol 23:985–993

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  108. Vercoza AM, Baldisserotto M, de Los Santos CA et al (2009) Cardiovascular risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness in asymptomatic children. Pediatr Cardiol 30:1055–1060

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  109. Virkola K, Pesonen E, Akerblom HK et al (1997) Cholesterol and carotid artery wall in children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia: a controlled study by ultrasound. Acta Paediatr 86:1203–1207

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  110. Vos LE, Oren A, Bots ML et al (2003) Does a routinely measured blood pressure in young adolescence accurately predict hypertension and total cardiovascular risk in young adulthood? J Hypertens 21:2027–2034

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  111. Vos LE, Oren A, Uiterwaal C et al (2003) Adolescent blood pressure and blood pressure tracking into young adulthood are related to subclinical atherosclerosis: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Young Adults (ARYA) study. Am J Hypertens 16:549–555

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  112. Weiss R, Dziura J, Burgert TS et al (2004) Obesity and the metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. N Engl J Med 350:2362–2374

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  113. Wendelhag I, Wiklund O, Wikstrand J (1992) Arterial wall thickness in familial hypercholesterolemia. Ultrasound measurement of intima-media thickness in the common carotid artery. Arterioscler Thromb 12:70–77

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  114. Wiegman A, de GE, Hutten BA et al (2004) Arterial intima-media thickness in children heterozygous for familial hypercholesterolaemia. Lancet 363:369–370

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  115. Wilders-Truschnig M, Mangge H, Lieners C et al (2008) IgG antibodies against food antigens are correlated with inflammation and intima media thickness in obese juveniles. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diab 116:241–245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  116. Woo KS, Chook P, Yu CW et al (2004) Overweight in children is associated with arterial endothelial dysfunction and intima-media thickening. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 28:852–857

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  117. Yamasaki Y, Kawamori R, Matsushima H et al (1994) Atherosclerosis in carotid artery of young IDDM patients monitored by ultrasound high-resolution B-mode imaging. Diabetes 43:634–639

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  118. Yavuz T, Akcay A, Omeroglu RE et al (2002) Ultrasonic evaluation of early atherosclerosis in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 15:1131–1136

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  119. Zhu W, Huang X, He J et al (2005) Arterial intima-media thickening and endothelial dysfunction in obese Chinese children. Eur J Pediatr 164:337–344

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  120. Zimmet P, Alberti G, Kaufman F et al (2007) The metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. Lancet 369:2059–2061

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

The authors indicate that they have no conflict of interest and no financial relationships that might have influenced the present work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christophe Lamotte.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lamotte, C., Iliescu, C., Libersa, C. et al. Increased intima-media thickness of the carotid artery in childhood: a systematic review of observational studies. Eur J Pediatr 170, 719–729 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-010-1328-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-010-1328-y

Keywords

Navigation