To compare the thickness of the intimal and medial layers of the carotid arteries, and the index of left ventricular mass, in children of parents suffering premature myocardial infarction, and to compare the findings with suitable controls.

Our population comprised 112 healthy adolescents, aged from 12 to 18 years, with a parental history of onset of coronary arterial disease under 55 years of age. We compared this cohort with 127 adolescents matched for age and gender, but without any history of coronary arterial disease in their first and second relatives. The thickness of the carotid arterial layers, and left ventricular mass, were assessed by high resolution carotid ultrasonography and echo doppler examination, respectively.

The mean age, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the patients and their controls was not significantly different. The intimal and medial thicknesses, and the index of left ventricular mass, however, as well as the levels of total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, were significantly higher in the group of patients. In the entire population studied, the levels of total and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol correlated significantly with the arterial mural thicknesses, whereas age, male gender, positive parental history of premature coronary arterial disease, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and the index of body mass had significant correlations with the index of left ventricular mass. After adjustment for all covariates, the association of parental history of premature coronary arterial disease with intimal and media thickness and the index of left ventricular mass remained significant (R2 = 0.3).

Our findings complement some recent observations of functional and structural changes in the arteries of young and older adults with a familial predisposition to coronary arterial disease, and emphasize the importance of primary prevention of such disease.