Lowered levels of serum albumin and HDL-cholesterol in children with a recent mild infection.

Background: Infections are associated with atherogenic changes in serum.AIM. To elucidate effects of recent infections on risk factors for coronary heart disease in children.

Subjects And Methods: In 1983 and again 3 years later, 2458 individuals aged 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 years were investigated. In 1986, 106 subjects had symptoms of infection during the past 2 weeks before their follow-up visit. Their serum albumin and lipid concentrations were compared to those in 1983 when these individuals probably were healthy. An age- and sex-matched healthy control group from the cohort 1986 was chosen for comparison. For cholesterol age, sex and body mass index specific Z-scores in addition to actual values were used in statistical comparisons.

Results: Serum albumin was 42 g/L in subjects with positive history of infection and 46 g/L in healthy controls (P<0.0001). HDL-cholesterol and the ratio of HDL- to total cholesterol were lower with increasing evidence of infection. Elevated serum C-reactive protein (CRP) or orosomucoid grouped the subjects with high and low serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations better than history of infection alone.

Conclusion: A mild infection lowers serum HDL-cholesterol and serum albumin concentrations, which both favour atherogenesis.