Lipid profile in a group of patients with Turner’s syndrome at Clínica Universitaria Bolivariana in the Medellín city between 2000 and 2009*

Abstract

Introduction: Turner syndrome patients can present lipid profile alterations, which associated with obesity, frequent in these patients, causes increased cardiovascular risk, lowering their life expectancy. This research evaluates lipid profiles of patients with Turner syndrome between 2000 and 2009 and these are associated to the karyotype and other risk factors for coronary disease.
Objective: To describe the lipid profile and other cardiovascular risk factors in a group of girls with Turner syndrome.
Methods: This is a descriptive and retrospective study, which evaluated the clinical records of 21 girls with Turner syndrome. We sought metabolic risk factors for coronary disease such as lipid profile, weight, body mass index, and blood pressure.
Results: Age at time of diagnostics ranged between 8 months to 17 years, four patients were below 10 years of age and 17 patients were over 11 years of age. The karyotype revealed: 57.3% with 45x monosomy, 33% with 46xx-45x mosaicism, and 9.5% with 46x-qx mosaicism. None of the patients was obese; the total cholesterol levels ranged from 116 mg/dl to 225 mg/dl with a mean of 168.7. When these patients were grouped by age, we found that 25% of those younger than 10 years of age had high levels of cholesterol vs. 58.8% for those over 10 years of age. Regarding the karyotype of the six patients with 46xx-45x karyotype, five (71.4%) presented hypercholesterolemia; 95.2% of the patients were normotensive.
Discussion: This research revealed Turner syndrome patients present lipid profile alterations at early ages.
Conclusion: It is important to include in the follow up protocol in these patients the lipid profile control and, thus, be able to conduct early interventions to improve their quality of life.

Authors

• Eduar Valencia
• Lina María Serna
• Carlos Mauricio Medina
• Álvaro Arango