BACKGROUND: Experimental studies and clinical observations indicate theimportance of active CMV infection in the development of atherosclerosis. Our research constituted anattempt to evaluate the components of lipid metabolism (total cholesterol and its fractions, triglycerides)in children with active CMV infection. MATERIAL/METHODS: The research involved 45 children with activeprimary or secondary CMV infection. The diagnosis was established by measuring anti-CMV serum antibodies(IgM and IgG) using the Enzyme-Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) technique, and by detecting CMV-DNA usingthe PCR technique. On the basis of diagnostic tests, the children were allocated to one of two groups.The first group of 15 children manifested primary active infection with CMV. The other group consistedof 30 children diagnosed with secondary active CMV infection. RESULTS: In the first group, the mean valuesof the serum lipid profile were as follows: total cholesterol--142 +/- 32.9 mg/dl; HDL-cholesterol:--23.4 +/- 8.6 mg/dl; LDL-cholesterol--97.8 +/- 30.9 mg/dl; triglycerides--83 +/- 15.5 mg/dl. In the secondgroup of children, the mean values of serum lipid profile were as follows: total cholesterol-- 142.5+/- 44.2 mg/dl; HDL-cholesterol--21.4 +/- 10.8 mg/dl, LDL-cholesterol--87.1 +/- 35.3 mg/dl; triglycerides--101.7+/- 31.2 mg/dl. In all these children, the values of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceridesconformed to published norms, while HDL-cholesterol was significantly below normal. CONCLUSIONS: Theresults we obtained point to dyslipidemia in the course of active CMV infection, which may be of pathogeneticsignificance at any stage of atherogenesis.

Keywords: Arteriosclerosis, Child, Child, Preschool, Cholesterol, Triglycerides