LIPID ABNORMALITIES IN TURNER SYNDROME

Turner syndrome is associated with insulin resistance, increased incid ence of type II diabetes, and hypertension, all of which are cardiovas cular risk factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the lipi d profile of girls with untreated Turner syndrome, (aged 5 to 14 years ; 68% 45,XO) and age-matched, normal girls, A total of 137 girls with Turner syndrome and 70 normal girls had lipid profile measurements, in cluding cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyc erides. Older girls with Turner syndrome (>11.0 years) had increased c holesterol levels (p <0.01), compared with control values (190 +/- 38 vs 165 +/- 26 mg/dl). Cholesterol levels were elevated in older subjec ts with Turner syndrome versus normal subjects, after adjustment for a ge, karyotype, and body mass index z score effects (p = 0.01), In the subjects with Turner syndrome but not the normal subjects, serum chole sterol values correlated with age, weight, and body mass index z score (p <0.02). We conclude that adolescent girls with untreated Turner sy ndrome have significantly increased cholesterol levels, independent of age, body mass index z score, or karyotype, and that these precede an y treatment with exogenous estrogen or growth hormone.