Development of Metabolic Syndrome in Children Who were Surgically Treated for Craniopharyngioma

Hong, Su Young; Chung, Hye Rim; Shin, Choong Ho; Yang, Sei Won

Abstract

PURPOSE
Obesity is a common complication in children who were surgically treated for craniopharyngioma. We analysed body composition, metabolic parameters and evaluated for correlation between adiponectin and metabolic parameters in children who were surgically treated for craniopharyngioma.
METHODS
Sixteen patients with craniopharyngioma (9 males, 7 females) were included in this study (patient group). The data of patient group were compared to those of children who visited the clinic for normal short stature with appropriate gestational age (14 males, 4 females) (control group). Height SDS, weight SDS, BMI were calculated. Total body fat, abdominal fat distribution were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Plasma levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, adiponectin, and insulin were measured after overnight fasting. The degree of insulin resistance was calculated by HOMA-IR.
RESULTS
Four of 16 patients were obese. and three were overweight. Patient group had higher total body fat percentage (27.5+/-6.8 vs 17.6+/-6.8, P=0.01), triglycerides (207.9+/-241.6 vs 76.7+/-30.8, P=0.001), lower HDL-cholesterol (37.5+/-14.6 vs 61.4+/-15.4, P=0.000) and adiponectin levels (7.1+/-4.2 vs 10.7+/-4.3, P=0.012). Adiponectin levels were correlated negatively with total body fat percentage (r=-0.631, P= 0.009), abdominal fat distribution (r=-0.547, P=0.03), triglycerides (r=-0.518, P=0.04), insulin (r=-0.525, P=0.037) and correlated positively with HDL-cholesterol (r=0.572, P=0.021).
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that children who were surgically treated for craniopharyngioma, had tendency to develop obesity, dyslipidemia and Insulin resistance. Therefore, patients who were surgically treated, should be closely monitored to minimize the effect of metabolic syndrome on their health and well being.