Background/Aims: Homocysteine is an important and independent risk factor for atherosclerotic diseases. The aim of
this study was to evaluate serum levels of homocysteine in
children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and their
relation to carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT)
and left ventricular (LV) function. Methods: This study included 36 children with classic CAH and 36 healthy children.
All underwent anthropometric evaluation. Measurement of
serum levels of total homocysteine was carried out. The LV
mass (LVM) and function were assessed using conventional
echocardiography. Duplex ultrasonography was used to
measure CA-IMT. Results: Compared to the controls, the patients had higher homocysteine levels (p = 0.001), a thicker
CA-IMT (p = 0.01), a higher LVM index (LVMI) (p = 0.001), and
a prolonged mitral deceleration time (DcT) (p = 0.01). Abnormalities were marked in children who were uncontrolled on
medical treatment. In multivariate analysis, homocysteine
levels were significantly correlated with systolic (OR = 2.2;
95% CI: 1.10–1.18; p = 0.01) and diastolic blood pressures
(OR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.45–2.4; p = 0.01), atherogenic index
(OR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.33–2.89; p = 0.01), HOMA-IR (OR = 1.3;
95% CI: 1.04–1.34; p = 0.001), LVMI (OR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1–
1.13; p = 0.001), mitral DcT (OR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.15–2.05; p =
0.01), and CA-IMT (OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.16–1.57; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Serum total homocysteine was elevated in children
with classic CAH, particularly in those with poor control on
medical treatment, and it was correlated with CA-IMT, LVMI,
and mitral DcT. Measurement of homocysteine in children
with CAH may help to identify those at high risk of developing LV dysfunction and subclinical atherosclerosis.