ADRENAL FUNCTION AND TYPE III PROCOLLAGEN PROPEPTIDE IN OBESE CHILDREN WITH STRIAE

The aim of this study is to establish whether striae in obese children could be considered as a disturbance of adrenal function and/or collagen synthesis and is related to higher risks of developing cardio-vascular disease. We studied 13 obese children with striae and 11 obese children without striae matched for age and weight excess. The patients were classified according to the distribution of the striae in 2 groups: A. limbs or trunk; B. limbs and trunk. In all patients the following parameters were evaluated: height and weight, pubertal stage, weight excess according to the Tanner's Standards, triceps and subscapular skinfolds, waist/hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose and IRI before and 120' after oral glucose load, BUN, blood uric acid, cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, Apo A1, Apo B, ACTH, DHEA-S, cortisol, estrone and procollagen type III propeptide (PIIIP-RIA), which is a precursor of soft connetive tissue collagen (type III). The caloric and nutrients intake was also evaluated on the basis of a three days alimentary recall.