Comparative Analysis of Plasma Lipids and Apolipoproteins in Children with Down Syndrome and Implications for Cardiovascular Risk.

Children with Down syndrome (DS) often exhibit dyslipidaemia, contributing to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This study aimed to compare plasma lipid profiles and apolipoprotein levels between children with DS and non-DS controls to understand their cardiovascular implications. A case-control study was conducted with 69 children (31 with DS, 38 without DS), aged 1-15 years, at the Paediatric Endocrinology Unit of University College Hospital, Ibadan. We used enzymatic spectrophotometry to measure lipid parameters such as total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and ELISA to measure apolipoproteins (ApoA1 and ApoB). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20, with significance set at p <0.05. Children with DS exhibited significantly higher triglyceride levels (183 mg/dL vs. 171 mg/dL, p = 0.028) and HDL-C levels (42.3 mg/dL vs. 31 mg/dL, p <0.001) compared to controls. LDL-C levels were significantly lower in DS children (76.6 mg/dL vs. 93.7 mg/dL, p = 0.036). No significant differences were found in total cholesterol, ApoA1, ApoB, or the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio between the groups. Children with Down syndrome (DS) have unique lipid profiles, with elevated triglycerides and HDL-C but lower LDL-C, potentially impacting long-term cardiovascular risk. Regular monitoring of lipid profiles, particularly triglycerides, in children with DS should be part of standard clinical care.