[Lipoprotein (a) and family history in 6-year-old children from Rivas-Vaciamadrid].

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate levels of lipoprotein(a) as a marker of family history of cardiovascular risk.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We have studied 673 six-year old children. Lipoprotein(a) was determined and previous family history of cardiovascular risk (hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease under 55 years) was collected.

RESULTS

Of the children studied, 7.42% had positive antecedents of cardiovascular risk in the parents, 51.8% in grandparents and 9.21% in parents and grandparents. The lipoprotein(a) levels were higher in these groups than in those without any family history of cardiovascular risk. Likewise, the percentage of children with lipoprotein(a) levels higher than 30 mg/dl was 15.69% in the group without a family history of problems and 25.8% and 25.69%, in the group with hypercholesterolemia antecedents and cardiovascular disease, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value test did not prove that a positive family history could be used to detect the majority of children with lipoprotein higher than 30 mg/dl.

CONCLUSIONS

Lipoprotein(a) levels in children are higher in those with a family history of cardiovascular disease or hypercholesterolemia, but these antecedents cannot be used as a determinant factor to detect the majority of children with lipoprotein(a) higher than 30 mg/dl.