Formation of isoprostanes in children with type IIa hypercholesterolemia

F-2-isoprostanes are stable lipid peroxidation products of arachidonic acid and their quantification provides a novel approach to the assessment of ox idative stress in vivo. F-2-isoprostanes are present in increased amounts i n adult hypercholesterolemia, but no data exist concerning children. We inv estigated urinary isoprostaglandin F-2 alpha type ill production as an inde x of lipid peroxidation in 15 children presenting with type IIa hypercholes terolemia (serum total cholesterol, 290 [SD +/- 70] mg/dl; low-density Lipo protein cholesterol, 210 [SD +/- 90] mg/dl) compared with 15 sex- and age-p aired control children (serum total cholesterol, 160 [SD +/- 20] mg/dl). Ur inary levels of isoprostaglandin F-2 alpha type III were measured by gas ch romatography mass spectrometry. Urinary concentrations did not differ signi ficantly in hypercholesterolemic children compared with control children (8 4.7 [SD +/- 37] vs. 96 [SD +/- 35] pmol/mmol creatinine, respectively). No significant correlation was found with total cholesterol, low-density-lipop rotein and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B and A (1) serum levels. F-2-isoprostane urinary levels in children with type IIa hypercholesterolemia do not differ from those of age- and sex-matched contr ol children and are not correlated to blood lipid parameters, suggesting th at hypercholesterolemia is not associated with increased lipid peroxidation in childhood.