1407 children whose fathers had died from ischemic heart disease before age 45 were investigated. 15% had hypercholesterolemia and 8% hypertriglyceridemia at visit 1. At visit 2 and 3 this number of children with hyperlipemia fell to a minimum of 3% and 1.4%, resp. which is around 10 times higher than in a reference population. 1.8% of the children had familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) which is 10-15 times higher than in a reference population. These findings indicate that serum lipids should always be measured in children from such coronary heart risk families, and a decision made whether or not their permanent hyperlipemia should be treated.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1980

Influence of dextropropoxyphene on steady state serum levels and protein binding of three anti-epileptic drugs in man.

Interactions between analgesics and anti-epileptic drugs may sometimes present a serious clinical problem. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of usually applied doses of dextropropoxyphene (DPX) on the steady state levels of carbamazepine (CBZ), phenytoin (DPH) and phenobarbital (PB). Sixteen patients in monotherapy completed the trial, while four patients dropped out. In patients on CBZ serum levels increased (mean appr. 66%) after 6 days on DPX. In three of the patients a further increase was seen after an additional week on DPX. One patient discontinued the DPX intake because of clinical signs of toxicity, but the remainder were clinically unaffected. CBZ-epoxide levels declined simultaneously. For DPH only a doubtful increase was observed after 1-2 weeks on DPX. For PB an average increase of 20% in serum level was noted after 1 week. The protein binding of CBZ and DPH was not affected. It is concluded that patients on CBZ should be treated only with DPX if monitored properly. Patients on DPH or PB should be followed carefully until further evidence has been produced.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1980

Lipids and lipoproteins in 350 Danish schoolchildren, ages 7 to 18 years.

Serum lipids and lipoprotein-lipids were measured in 350 Danish schoolchildren, ages 7 to 18 years. The children had been randomly selected and serve as an urban reference population. Only in boys did serum triglyceride and VLDL-cholesterol increase significantly with age, whereas the other lipoprotein-lipids remained almost constant during adolescence. LDL-cholesterol was found to be higher and HDL-cholesterol lower than in American children, suggesting that Danish children may be more prone to develop coronary heart disease in adult life.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1980

Education and training in clinical biochemistry.

The knowledge and the experience necessary for a clinical biochemist are expounded by a review of the many considerations and steps necessary to select the proper method for an analytical task in a given hospital laboratory. Evaluation of the type of medical need; selection of the best component to illustrate the pathophysiological disorder; choice between existing methods and their modifications; importance of specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, reproducibility, speed, economy; problems of staff, reagents, equipment. Some conclusions are drawn regarding content and form of education and training.

Biochemistry↗

PubMed1979

Screening for hyperlipoproteinemia in 10,000 Danish newborns. Follow-up studies in 522 children with elevated cord serum VLDL-LDL-cholesterol.

Among 10 440 newborns, 522 with upper 5 percentile values for very low-low density lipoprotein cholesterol in cord serum were selected for follow-up studies. Follow-up was possible in 446 of these 522 families (85%) and familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) was diagnosed in 11. In 273 of the 522 children, serum lipids were determined between the ages of 1 and 2 years and were now found to be normal, except in the 11 children with FH. Furthermore the serum lipids were compared in subgroups of these 273 children divided according to obstetric complications (i.e. low birth-weight, perinatal asphyxia and antepartum betamethasone treatment), which may cause a rise in serum lipids at birth. No differences were found between these subgroups at the age of 1--2 years.

Cholesterol↗

PubMed1979

Hyperlipoproteinemia in newborn infants. A study of 1025 families.

As part of a screening study for the detection of hyperlipoproteinemia in 10,000 newborns, cord serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured in detail in 1025 infants. Elevated cord serum VLDL-LDL-cholesterol could easily be identified by a rapid turbidimetric estimation of cord serum VLDL-LDL. Cord serum VLDL-LDL-cholesterol was found to be significantly higher than normal in premature, asphyxiated and beta-methasone-phenobarbital-ritodrine treated infants. Other obstetric complications, however, were not associated with hyperlipoproteinemia. Furthermore all 2050 parents had their serum cholesterol determined. 3 parents had familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). One child also had FH, though her cord serum total cholesterol and VLDL-LDL-cholesterol were normal. The 2 other children of the 3 FH parents, had normal lipids and lipoproteins both at birth and follow-up.

Cholesterol↗

PubMed1979

Familial hypobetalipoproteinaemia in 9 children diagnosed as the result of cord blood screening for hypolipoproteinaemia in 10 000 Danish newborns.

Out of 10 440 children, 266 with low (less than 2.5 centile) values for very low-low density lipoproteins in cord serum were chosen to be followed up to find out how many came from families with familial hypobetalipoproteinaemia (FHBL). In 176 families (66% of 266 families), FHBL was diagnosed in 9 children and their families.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1976