LYMPHOCYTE-T SUBSET COUNTS IN CHILDREN WITH ELEVATED LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

The aim of this study was to determine blood lymphocyte T subset count s in children with elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein choleste rol. We studied 107 children, ages 2.0 to 15.9 years, from 79 families who were referred to our Lipid Research Clinic because total choleste rol serum levels higher than 200 mg/dl had been detected in at least o ne child. At the time of diagnosis we analyzed serum lipoprotein profi le and blood lymphocyte T subsets (CD3, CD4 and CD8). Children were cl assified according to LDL-C levels into three groups: (1)normal, if le vels were between the 5th and 75th percentiles (50 and 125 mg/dl, resp ectively); (2) at moderate risk, if levels were between the 75th and 9 5th percentiles (125 and 150 mg/dl, respectively); and (3) at high ris k, if levels were above the 95th percentile (150 mg/dl). In children a ged 2.0 to 6.9 years, all lymphocyte T subset counts were higher in th e high risk group than in the normal group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). In children aged 11.0 to 15.9 years, the CD4 subset count was also signi ficantly higher in the high risk group than in the other two groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). These results are in agreement with pathologic findings in the atheromatous plaque.