Biomarkers of chronic inflammation in children with obesity and their association with complications of the disease

Relevance. The prevalence of childhood obesity and its complications determine the need to analyze the various mechanisms of formation of these forms of pathology, including disorders that are realized in chronic nonspecific inflammation in obesity. The aim of the study was to determine changes in the levels of inflammatory biomarkers in obese children and their association with complications of the disease. Materials and methods. There were examined two hundred eleven school-age children, including 188 patients with constitutionally exogenous obesity and 23 conditionally healthy children who made up the control group. The average age of the children was 14 years. Anthropometric parameters were determined in all children, body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the Ketle formula, the number of leukocytes, levels of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The blood (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) in the blood was determined by enzyme immunoassay. Results. Obese patients with metabolic complications of the disease showed significantly increased blood levels of leukocytes, C-reactive protein, and IL-6 when compared with children without complications. Correlations have been established between the levels of inflammatory biomarkers and various complications of obesity. High levels of inflammatory markers in children with complications of obesity indicate the formation of obesity-associated chronic nonspecific inflammation in the early stages of the disease. Conclusion. The established patterns can be used as predictors of the unfavourable course of obesity in children and early markers of the risk of complications.