Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in obese children and adolescents

Objective this study aimed to investigate the relationship between circulating endothelial progenitor cell count and endothelial activation in a pediatric population with obesity. methods observational and transversal study,including 120 children and adolescents with primary obesity of both sexes,aged 6-17 years,who were recruited at this cardiovascular risk clinic. the control group was made up of 41 children and adolescents with normal body mass index. the variables analyzed were: age,gender,body mass index,systolic and diastolic blood pressure,high-sensitivity c-reactive protein,lipid profile,leptin,adiponectin,homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance,monocyte chemoattractant protein-1,e-selectin,asymmetric dimethylarginine and circulating progenitor endothelial cell count. results insulin resistance was correlated to asymmetric dimethylarginine (ρ = 0.340; p = 0.003),which was directly,but weakly correlated to e-selectin (ρ = 0.252; p = 0.046). high sensitivity c-reactive protein was not found to be correlated to markers of endothelial activation. systolic blood pressure was directly correlated to body mass index (ρ = 0.471; p < 0.001) and the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (ρ = 0.230; p = 0.012),and inversely correlated to adiponectin (ρ = -0.331; p < 0.001) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ρ = -0.319; p < 0.001). circulating endothelial progenitor cell count was directly,but weakly correlated,to body mass index (r = 0.211; p = 0.016),leptin (ρ = 0.245; p = 0.006),triglyceride levels (r = 0.241; p = 0.031),and e-selectin (ρ = 0.297; p = 0.004). conclusion circulating endothelial progenitor cell count is elevated in obese children and adolescents with evidence of endothelial activation,suggesting that,during infancy,endothelial repairing mechanisms are present in the context of endothelial activation. © 2015 sociedade brasileira de pediatria. published by elsevier editora ltda. all rights reserved.