There has been no specific evaluation of atherogenic risk factors in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). We, therefore, studied the prevalence of overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome among these patients. Five hundred children with T1DM treated with CSII and multiple daily insulin (MDI) regimen were included in the study. Anthropometric data/physical examination, data concerning diabetes, and a lipid profile were assessed in this group, and compared with respect to treatment method (CSII vs. MDI). Almost one-third (30.2%) of the children were overweight/obese. The body mass index (BMI) values at the time of the present evaluation were significantly higher in comparison with the BMI values 3-6 months after the diagnosis. Dyslipidemia was recognized in 51.6%, hypertension in 4.8%, and the metabolic syndrome in 3.2%. of the subjects. The overweight/obese children differed from their normal-weight counterparts with respect to metabolic control, the incidence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. The girls showed higher prevalence of overweight/obesity and higher BMI values compared to the boys. The children treated with CSII had the same prevalence of overweight/obesity, but a lower incidence of dyslipidemia, and a better metabolic control compared to the children treated with MDI regimen. Our study shows a high prevalence of overweight/obesity and dyslipidemia in children with T1DM including those treated with an insulin pump.

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Objective. We aimed to determine the prevalence of excess body mass in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) children and to investigate the influence of obesity into the early, subclinical changes in cardiovascular system in these patients. Methods. Fifty-eight JIA patients, aged median 13 years, were compared to 36 healthy controls. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers (hsCRP, IL-6, TNFα, adiponectin) were studied together with IMT (intima-media thickness), FMD (flow mediated dilation), and LVMi (left ventricle mass index) as surrogate markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. Results. Thirteen JIA children (22%) were obese and had increased systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, HOMA, hsCRP, and IL-6 compared to nonobese JIA and controls. FMD was decreased compared to nonobese JIA and controls, whereas IMT and LVMi were increased. In multivariate regression analysis, TNFα, SDS-BMI, and systolic blood pressure were independent predictors of early CV changes in JIA. Conclusions. Coincident obesity is common in JIA children and is associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and increased levels of inflammatory markers leading to early changes in cardiovascular system. Thus, medical care of children with JIA should include strategies preventing cardiovascular disease by maintenance of adequate body weight.

Background. A non-invasive estimation of central aortic pressure and echocardiographic parameters, and appropriate interpretation thereof make it possible to determine the status of the vascular wall and myocardium. These parameters are early markers of unfavorable remodeling of the cardiovascular system.

Objective: The low number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) has emerged as a biomarker of cardiovascular (CV) risk in adults. Data regarding EPCs in paediatric populations with CV risk factors are limited. The aim of the study was to estimate the EPC number and its relationship with vascular function and structure in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Design and methods: We performed a comparative analysis of 52 children with T1DM (mean age 14.5 years; diabetes duration, 6.0 years; HbA1c level, 8.5%) and 36 healthy age-and gender-matched control children. EPCs were identified and analysed by flow cytometry with the use of MABs directed against CD34, CD144 (VE-cadherin) and CD309 (VEGFR-2). sICAM-1, hsCRP, thrombomodulin and adiponectin levels were also assessed. We evaluated vascular function (flow-mediated dilation (FMD)) and structure (carotid intima-media thickness (IMT)) ultrasonographically. Results: Frequencies of CD34C cells were similar in both groups (PZ0.30). In contrast, frequencies of CD34CVE-cadherinC cells were significantly higher in diabetic children compared with the healthy group (PZ0.003). Similarly, diabetic patients tended to present with higher frequencies of CD34C VEGFRC cells (PZ0.06). FMD was lower (6.9 vs 10.5%, PZ0.002) and IMT was higher (0.50 vs 0.44 mm, PZ0.0006) in diabetic children. We demonstrated a significant relationship between CD34CVEGFR-2C cells and BMI (rZ0.3, PZ0.014), HDL (rZK0.27, PZ0.04), sICAM-1 (rZ0.47, PZ0.023) and FMD (rZK0.45, P!0.001). Similarly, frequencies of CD34CVE-cadherinC cells were significantly correlated with BMI (rZ0.32, PZ0.02) and FMD (rZK0.31, PZ0.03). Conclusions: We demonstrated here that increased frequencies of EPCs observed in diabetic children are negatively correlated with endothelial function. Further studies are warranted to assess whether this phenomenon might result from effective mobilisation of EPCs in order to repair damaged endothelium in children at increased risk for atherosclerosis.