Background: The aim of this study was to compare serum endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (endocan) in pediatric patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and in healthy children, and to determine whether it can be used as an indicator of endothelium damage-induced complications in pediatric MetS patients.
Methods: The study included 30 patients, aged 6-16 years, who were diagnosed with MetS. Another 30 children with no diseases were recruited as healthy controls. Endocan concentration was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Endocan was increased almost threefold in the MetS group compared with the healthy group. Systolic arterial tension and diastolic arterial tension, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were higher, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower, in the MetS children than in the healthy group. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HBA1C), and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were also significantly increased in the children with MetS compared with the healthy group.
Conclusions: Serum endocan level in pediatric MetS patients could be an important indicator of cardiovascular risk in adulthood.
Keywords: endocan; endothelial dysfunction; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; metabolic syndrome; pediatric.
© 2016 Japan Pediatric Society.