Browsing by Author "Mericq, Veronica"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Early Obesity: Risk Factor for Fatty Liver Disease
    (LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, 2020) Cuzmar, Valeriau; Alberti, Gigliola; Uauy, Ricardo; Pereira, Ana; Garcia, Cristian; De Barbieri, Florencia; Corvalan, Camila; Santos, Jose L.; Mericq, Veronica; Villarroel, Luis; Gana, Juan Cristobal
    Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), defined as fat accumulation greater than 5% in hepatocytes, may progress to fibrosis or cirrhosis later in life. NAFLD prevalence in adolescents has increased significantly in direct relation with obesity prevalence. Fatty liver has become the most frequent indication for liver transplantation in adults. Objective: The aim of the study was to identify anthropometric variables during the first 10 years of life associated to the risk of developing NAFLD in adolescence. Methods: Longitudinal cohort study 'Growth and Obesity Chilean Cohort Study' (GOCS) consisting of 513 children born in 2002 to 2003, with yearly anthropometric data collected over a 10-year period. The presence of intrahepatic fat in the livers of subjects 14 to 16 years of age was determined using abdominal ultrasound. In addition, elastography was performed on all participants with ultrasound evidence of NAFLD. Results: 9.7% of the participants presented findings compatible with NAFLD. After 2 years of age, obesity significantly and progressively increased the probability of NAFLD occurrence in adolescence. Obesity at 5 years of age was associated with the highest OR for NAFLD, reaching values of 8.91 (95% CI 3.03-16.11). Among participants with NAFLD, those with altered liver elasticity (>= 7 kPa) had greater weight, BMIz-score, waist and hip circumference, and altered liver enzymes (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The risk of developing NAFLD in adolescence increases progressively with early obesity starting at age 2 years.
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    Frequency of Familial Hyperaldosteronism Type 1 in a Hypertensive Pediatric Population Clinical and Biochemical Presentation
    (LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, 2011) Aglony, Marlene; Martinez Aguayo, Alejandro; Carvajal, Cristian A.; Campino, Carmen; Garcia, Hernan; Bancalari, Rodrigo; Bolte, Lillian; Avalos, Carolina; Loureiro, Carolina; Trejo, Pamela; Brinkmann, Karin; Giadrosich, Vinka; Mericq, Veronica; Rocha, Ana; Avila, Alejandra; Perez, Viviana; Inostroza, Andrea; Fardella, Carlos E.
    Familial hyperaldosteronism type 1 is an autosomal dominant disorder attributed to a chimeric CYP11B1/CYP11B2 gene (CG). Its prevalence and manifestation in the pediatric population has not been established. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of familial hyperaldosteronism type 1 in Chilean hypertensive children and to describe their clinical and biochemical characteristics. We studied 130 untreated hypertensive children (4 to 16 years old). Blood samples for measuring plasma potassium, serum aldosterone, plasma renin activity, aldosterone/renin ratio, and DNA were collected. The detection of CG was performed using long-extension PCR. We found 4 (3.08%) of 130 children with CG who belonged to 4 unrelated families. The 4 patients with CG had very high aldosterone/renin ratio (49 to 242). In addition, we found 4 children and 5 adults who were affected among 21 first-degree relatives. Of the 8 affected children, 6 presented severe hypertension, 1 presented prehypertension, and 1 presented normotension. High serum aldosterone levels (> 17.7 ng/dL) were detected in 6 of 8 subjects (range: 18.6 to 48.4 ng/dL) and suppressed plasma renin activity (<= 0.5 ng/mL per hour) and high aldosterone/renin ratio (> 10) in 8 of 8 children (range: 49 to 242). Hypokalemia was observed in only 1 of 8 children. We demonstrated that the prevalence of familial hyperaldosteronism type 1 in a pediatric hypertensive pediatric population was surprisingly high. We found a high variability in the clinical and biochemical characteristics of the affected patients, which suggests that familial hyperaldosteronism type 1 is a heterogeneous disease with a wide spectrum of presentations even within the same family group. (Hypertension. 2011;57:1117-1121.). Online Data Supplement
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    High DHEAS in girls and metabolic features throughout pubertal maturation
    (2022) Pereira, Ana; Merino, Paulina M.; Santos, Jose L.; Iñiguez, German; Cutler, Gordon B.; Corvalan, Camila; Mericq, Veronica
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    Higher Dehydroepiandrosterone Levels in Prepubertal Children Born Very Preterm
    (KARGER, 2018) Mericq, Veronica; Martinez Aguayo, Alejandro; Iniguez, German; Poggi, Helena; D'Apremont, Ivonne; Moore, Rosario; Arancibia, Monica; Garcia, Hernan; Peredo, Soledad; Trincado, Claudia; Sifaqui, Sofia; Tomas Ossa, Jose; Fardella, Carlos; Carvajal, Cristian; Campino, Carmen; Baudrand, Rene; Solari, Sandra; Allende, Fidel
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    How to Optimally Manage Growth Hormone Therapy: Survey of Chilean Pediatric Endocrinologists
    (KARGER, 2012) Garcia, Roberto J.; Martinez Aguayo, Alejandro; Mericq, Veronica
    Early referral is the key to the optimal management of growth failure. Evidence shows that there is no universal consensus for endocrinologists on the handling, tracking and monitoring of growth hormone (GH) treatment. The monitoring of therapy varies due to national prescription guidelines. The aim of this work was to assess the clinical management of short-stature patients who use GH prescribed by pediatric endocrinologists (n = 30) who belong to the Chilean Endocrinology Society (SOCHED). We conducted a questionnaire through an anonymous survey. We observed a large variability of responses to all of the questions. Once the clinician suggests GH treatment, patients usually begin treatment with a strong motivation, and maintenance of this motivation will improve the treatment outcomes. We propose 3-4 months of medical follow-up during which strict physician-patient communication and education is critical. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel
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    Leuprolide acetate-stimulated androgen response during female puberty
    (2015) Hernández, María Isabel; Martínez Aguayo, Alejandro Gregorio; Cavada, Gabriel; Avila, Alejandra; Iñiguez, German; Mericq, Veronica
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    Mild fasting hyperglycemia in children: high rate of glucokinase mutations and some risk of developing type 1 diabetes mellitus
    (WILEY, 2009) Codner, Ethel; Rocha, Ana; Deng, Liyong; Martinez Aguayo, Alejandro; Godoy, Claudia; Mericq, Veronica; Chung, Wendy K.
    Background: Incidental hyperglycemia in children generates concern about the presence of preclinical type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM).
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    Prevalence of components of the metabolic syndrome according to birthweight among overweight and obese children and adolescents
    (WALTER DE GRUYTER GMBH, 2012) Eyzaguirre, Francisca; Bancalari, Rodrigo; Roman, Rossana; Silva, Ricardo; Youlton, Ronald; Urquidi, Cinthyia; Garcia, Hernan; Mericq, Veronica
    Background/objectives: Extremes of birthweight (BW) have been associated with increased rates of metabolic risks. The objective was to study the prevalence of metabolic risks markers among obese and overweight (OW) subjects according to BW.