ESPE Abstracts

Objectives: We can notice that in Poland and around the world, the number of obesity cases in the pediatric population is increasing spectacularly. Metabolic syndrome, which can be recognized and treated in childhood, is often neglected during this period. As a result, in adult life it may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases development dependent from VEGF. That is why it is so important to diagnose and treat obesity in childhood, thanks to therapeutic intervention, it can prolong healthy life and reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases.

The aimof the study: is to evaluate the concentration of VEGF and other biochemical tests in obese children in comparison with healthy children with type 1 diabetes (DM1).

Methods: The observational study involved 139 patients aged 2.6 to 18 years, divided into 3 groups: DM1 (52 people), obesity (60 people), control (27 healthy people). In all children, BMI was calculated, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, fasting glucose, glucose and insulin in an oral glucose tolerance test, blood pressure and VEGF were determined.

Results: Increased triglyceride levels were observed in obese children and DM1 patients compared to the control group in which no such pathology was detected. Triglycerides are higher in obese people (mean 116.8 ± 48.8 mg/dl) and in diabetics (mean 140 ± 130.8 mg/dl) than in the control group (mean 94.7 ± 46.1 mg/dl). Moreover, in the case of obesity and DM1, the VEGF level is significantly increased, which may accelerate the occurrence of complications. Serum VEGF concentration is higher in patients with obesity (mean 386.5 ± 236.1 nmol/L) and type 1 diabetes (mean 306.7 ± 294.8 nmol/L) than in the control group (mean 171.1 ± 174.4 nmol/L).

Conclusion: Elevated triglycerides and VEGF levels in children with obesity and DM1 may be prognostic factors leading to early treatment.