Elastin Degradation Products among Obese Children with Family History of Arterial Hypertension

The aim of the study was to investigate the distribution of elastin-derived proteins (EDP) in the sera of obese hypertensive children with a family history of arterial hypertension. Eighteen obese hypertensive children with a family history of arterial hypertension were compared with 23 obese nonhypertensive children with a family history of arterial hypertension, 25 obese nonhypertensive children without family history of arterial hypertension and 21 healthy nonobese children. The highest level of EDP (151±42 ng/mL) was found in obese hypertensive children with a family history of arterial hypertension, and was significantly higher than in other groups. Obese nonhypertensive children with a family history of arterial hypertension had a significantly higher EDP (92±35 ng/mL) than controls, whereas obese nonhypertensive children without family history of arterial hypertension did not differ from controls (EDP 69±37 and 63±25 ng/mL, respectively). These results suggest an early elastin degradation in obese children susceptible (on the basis of family history) to hypertension. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the significance of this observation.