Biomedical subjects

T F Fok

Publications and source records attributed to T F Fok.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Urinary leukotriene E4 correlates with severity of atopic dermatitis in children.

Leukotriene E4 (LTE(4)) is elevated in adults with atopic dermatitis (AD). We evaluated whether urinary LTE(4) as a noninvasive marker correlates with clinical indices of disease activity in children with AD. AD patients aged 18 years or younger were eligible for inclusion in the study. Disease severity over the preceding 3 days was evaluated by the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Severity of AD over the past 12 months was evaluated by the Nottingham Eczema Severity Score (NESS) in Chinese. Urinary LTE(4) concentration was measured by competitive enzyme immunoassay. One hundred and twenty-six children with AD (82 boys and 44 girls) and 45 controls were recruited. The mean +/- SD urinary log-transformed LTE(4) concentration in AD patients and controls was 2.94 +/- 0.32 and 2.62 +/- 0.20 pg/mg creatinine, respectively (P < 0.0001). SCORAD significantly correlated with NESS (r = 0.681, P < 0.0001). There were significant correlations between urinary LTE(4) concentration and overall SCORAD score (r = 0.270, P = 0.002) and its extent (r = 0.185, P = 0.038) and intensity components (r = 0.247, P = 0.005), but not with NESS. When compared with mild AD, urinary LTE(4) concentrations were higher in patients with moderate-to-severe disease (P = 0.049). Urinary LTE(4) measurement is noninvasive and may be useful in supplementing the SCORAD for following longitudinal changes in AD severity in children. However, the practical value of this assay in a clinical setting remains to be determined.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Transient adrenocortical insufficiency of prematurity and systemic hypotension in very low birthweight infants.

OBJECTIVES: A proportion of preterm, very low birthweight (VLBW, < 1500 g) infants may show inadequate adrenal response to stress in the immediate postnatal period. The human corticotrophin releasing hormone (hCRH) stimulation test was used to: (a) determine the relation between pituitary-adrenal response and systemic blood pressure in these infants; (b) characterise the endocrinological features of transient adrenocortical insufficiency of prematurity (TAP). STUDY DESIGN: A total of 226 hCRH tests were performed on 137 VLBW infants on day 7 and 14 of life in a tertiary neonatal centre. RESULTS: Basal, peak, and incremental rise in serum cortisol (Delta Cort(0-30)) on day 7 were associated significantly with the lowest systolic, mean, and diastolic blood pressures recorded during the first two weeks of life (r > 0.25, p < 0.005). These cortisol concentrations also correlated significantly but negatively with the maximum and total cumulative dose of dopamine (r > -0.22, p < 0.02), dobutamine (r > -0.18, p < 0.04), and adrenaline (r > -0.26, p < 0.004), total volume of crystalloid (r > -0.22, p < 0.02), and duration of inotrope treatment (r > -0.25, p < 0.006). Multivariate regression analysis of significant factors showed that the lowest systolic, mean, and diastolic blood pressures remained independently associated with serum cortisol (basal, peak, and Delta Cort(0-30)) on day 7. Hypotensive infants requiring inotropes (group 2) were significantly less mature and more sick than infants with normal blood pressure (group 1). The areas under the ACTH response curves were significantly greater in group 2 than in group 1, on both day 7 (p = 0.004) and day 14 (p = 0.004). In contrast, the area under the cortisol response curve was significantly greater in group 1 than in group 2 on day 7 (p = 0.001), but there was no significant difference between the two groups on day 14. In addition, serum cortisol at the 50th centile in hypotensive infants had high specificity and positive predictive value (0.80-0.93 and 0.81-0.89 respectively) for predicting early neonatal hypotension. CONCLUSIONS: This study characterises the fundamental endocrinological features of TAP: normal or exaggerated pituitary response; adrenocortical insufficiency; good recovery of adrenal function by day 14 of postnatal life. The results also provide the centiles of serum cortisol for hypotensive patients and infants with normal blood pressure, and show a significant relation between serum cortisol and blood pressure in VLBW infants.

Adrenal Insufficiency↗

PubMed2004

Early pituitary-adrenal response and respiratory outcomes in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of circulating (basal) and stimulated plasma adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) and serum cortisol on the duration of oxygen supplementation and development of chronic lung disease (CLD) in preterm, very low birthweight infants. METHODS: A total of 226 human corticotrophin releasing hormone stimulation tests were performed on 137 very low birthweight infants on days 7 and 14 in a tertiary neonatal centre. RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis showed that the duration of oxygen supplementation was negatively associated with birth weight, but positively associated with alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (A-aDO(2)) on the first day and with basal serum cortisol on day 14. In addition, the multivariate classification and regression trees model indicated that the two most useful indices for predicting CLD were clinical risk index for babies (CRIB) score (> 9) and peak serum cortisol (> 740 nmol/l) on day 14. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of these factors for predicting CLD were 53%, 80%, 81%, and 70% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that birth weight, severity of initial respiratory failure as reflected by the A-aDO(2) gradient, and continuing "stress" with persistent increase in serum cortisol on day 14 are significant risk factors associated with the duration of oxygen supplementation, whereas early pituitary-adrenal response (basal and peak plasma ACTH and serum cortisol on day 7) is not an independent risk factor. Although CRIB score in combination with peak serum cortisol on day 14 are useful predictors of CLD, the need to use a stimulation test and the relatively late timing of the forecast render these indices unattractive for routine clinical use.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMed2004

Combined use of alcohol hand rub and gloves reduces the incidence of late onset infection in very low birthweight infants.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of late onset (> 72 hours) infection and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants in two 36 month periods using two hand hygiene protocols: conventional handwashing (HW; first 36 month period); an alcohol hand rub and gloves technique (HR; second 36 month period). METHOD: VLBW infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit during the period December 1993-November 1999 were eligible. A new hand hygiene protocol using alcohol handrub and gloves was introduced in December 1996. Each patient's case record was reviewed retrospectively by two independent investigators using a standard data collection form. The incidence of NEC and systemic infections, including bacterial or fungal septicaemia, meningitis, and peritonitis, in the two periods were compared. RESULTS: The HW and HR groups contained 161 and 176 VLBW infants respectively. The incidence of late onset systemic infection decreased from 13.5 to 4.8 episodes (including NEC)/1000 patient days after introduction of the HR regimen, representing a 2.8-fold reduction. Similarly, the incidence of Gram positive, Gram negative, and fungal infections decreased 2.5-fold, 2.6-fold, and 7-fold respectively. There was also a significant reduction in the incidence of NEC in the HR group (p < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis revealed that the incidence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) septicaemia was significantly decreased in the second 36 month period (p = 0.048). The clinical data suggest that infants in the HW group had significantly earlier onset of sepsis (p < 0.05) and required oxygen supplementation for longer (p < 0.05) than those in the HR group. Significantly more VLBW infants were discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit without ever being infected (p < 0.0001), and also significantly fewer infants had more than one episode of infection in the HR group (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The introduction of the HR protocol was associated with a 2.8-fold reduction in the incidence of late onset systemic infection, and also a significant decrease in the incidence of MRSA septicaemia and NEC in VLBW infants. This decrease in infection rate was maintained throughout the second 36 month period.

2-Propanol↗

PubMed2004

Plasma ghrelin and resistin concentrations are suppressed in infants of insulin-dependent diabetic mothers.

This study aimed to investigate 1) the effect of maternal diabetes mellitus on ghrelin, resistin, leptin, and insulin in term newborns; 2) the interrelationship of these metabolic hormones in the early postnatal period; and 3) the association of the hormones with anthropometric parameters at birth. A total of 120 term newborns were prospectively enrolled and categorized into three groups: 40 were infants of nondiabetic mothers (group N), 42 were infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes on low energy dietary treatment (group D), and 38 were infants born to mothers with preexisting or severe gestational diabetes who required exogenous insulin for stabilization of blood sugar during pregnancy (group I). Plasma ghrelin and resistin were significantly lower in group I than in either group N or group D infants (P < 0.048). Plasma ghrelin and subscapular skinfold thickness were significantly higher in female than in male infants [plasma ghrelin: median (interquartile range), 3.8 (3.0-4.8) vs. 3.0 (2.4-4.0) ng/ml in females and males, respectively; P = 0.003; subscapular skinfold thickness: 4.9 (4.2-5.6) vs. 4.6 (3.9-5.2) mm; P = 0.03]. In group N, plasma ghrelin was significantly, but negatively, associated with birth weight (r = -0.31; P = 0.05) and body length (r = -0.33; P = 0.04), whereas in group I, plasma ghrelin was negatively correlated with plasma resistin (r = -0.37; P = 0.02). Plasma ghrelin and resistin are suppressed in infants of insulin-dependent diabetic mothers, suggesting that the metabolic hormonal system is probably operational in fetal and early postnatal life. A low circulating ghrelin concentration may be advantageous to these infants, because a reduction in appetite may prevent excessive weight gain postnatally and counterbalances the in utero anabolic effect of hyperinsulinism in poorly controlled diabetic mothers. The suppressive effect of insulin on resistin may partially explain the excess accumulation of adipose tissue in infants of diabetic mothers by reducing the inhibitory effect of resistin on adipogenesis. Female infants have significantly higher plasma ghrelin levels than male infants, suggesting that sexual dimorphism exists in utero. This study has also shown an association between some of the metabolic hormones in specific groups of infants and thus suggests that these hormones could have interacted in utero to regulate growth and fat storage during this critical period.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗

PubMed2004

Childhood obstructive sleep apnoea: an update.

OBJECTIVE: To review literature on epidemiology, complications, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood obstructive sleep apnoea. DATA SOURCE: Literature search of MEDLINE up to July 2004 using the following key words: 'obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome', 'children', 'epidemiology', 'complications', 'treatment', and 'polysomnography'. STUDY SELECTION: Literature and data related to the aspects of childhood obstructive sleep apnoea. DATA EXTRACTION: Relevant information and data were reviewed by the authors. DATA SYNTHESIS: There is a paucity of normal data on childhood obstructive sleep apnoea. Varying definitions and diagnostic criteria have been used in different studies, making direct comparison difficult. However, a small-scale local study found that the prevalence and clinical features of this condition were similar to data published overseas. Increasing evidence suggests that childhood obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and neurocognitive dysfunction. Overnight polysomnography has remained the gold standard for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnoea but the diagnostic criteria has not been standardised nor correlated with the long-term outcome. Surgical intervention has remained the treatment of choice, although alternative therapies are being evaluated. CONCLUSION: Consensus on the various important aspects of childhood obstructive sleep apnoea is still limited, especially the definition, diagnosis, and long-term sequelae of this condition. Further advances can only be made with international collaborative research, using evidence-based definitions, standardised techniques, and polysomnographic criteria.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed2003

Clinical presentations and outcome of severe acute respiratory syndrome in children.

Hong Kong has been severely affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Contact in households and health-care settings is thought to be important for transmission, putting children at particular risk. Most data so far, however, have been for adults. We prospectively followed up the first ten children with SARS managed during the early phase of the epidemic in Hong Kong. All the children had been in close contact with infected adults. Persistent fever, cough, progressive radiographic changes of chest and lymphopenia were noted in all patients. The children were treated with high-dose ribavirin, oral prednisolone, or intravenous methylprednisolone, with no short-term adverse effects. Four teenagers required oxygen therapy and two needed assisted ventilation. None of the younger children required oxygen supplementation. Compared with adults and teenagers, SARS seems to have a less aggressive clinical course in younger children.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2003

A genomic approach to mutation analysis of holocarboxylase synthetase gene in three Chinese patients with late-onset holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple carboxylase deficiency (MCD, MIM:253270) is a common organic aciduria and caused by deficiency of either biotinidase or holocarboxylase synthetase (HLCS; EC 6.3.4.10). Patients commonly present during early infancy with acute metabolic derangements and severe metabolic acidosis. Recently, a late onset form of HLCS deficiency was also described. The different phenotypes (early and late presenting) may be related to a spectrum of mutations in HLCS gene. Applications of mutation analysis in HLCS had been limited previously by the requirement of cDNA from living tissue for study. We described here a genomic approach for molecular diagnosis of HLCS deficiency which we have used to detect mutations in Chinese patients who had the late-onset form of HLCS deficiency. In addition, a fibroblast cell line with MCD from Coriell Cell repositories was also studied. DESIGN AND METHODS: Three Chinese patients with late onset HLCS deficiency were studied. The genomic sequence of HLCS was retrieved and newly designed primers were used to cover all coding sequences of the gene. PCR products were analyzed by direct sequencing. Population allelic frequencies of mutations detected were determined by genotyping of control samples by restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: We found a recurrent mutation, R508W, in the three unrelated Chinese patients. Two were homozygous for this mutation. The other patient was a compound heterozygote of R508W and a novel mutation, D634N. The results suggest that R508W may be an important and relatively prevalent disease-causing mutation in Chinese MCD patients. A fibroblast cell-line from an African patient revealed an additional novel mutation, R565X and a known mutation, V550M. CONCLUSION: R508W is a recurrent mutation in Chinese MCD patients which is associated with the late onset phenotype. This new genomic approach for mutation analysis of HLCS gene provides new opportunities in studies of MCD.

Asian People↗

PubMed2003

Imaging in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a highly infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus, and has become pandemic within a short period of time. Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis, management and follow-up of patients with SARS. The current status of imaging in SARS is presented in this review.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in children: epidemiology, presentation and management.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly recognised and highly contagious respiratory infection caused by a new strain of coronavirus. The disease can result in progressive respiratory failure in adults and the mortality rate has been reported to be 8-15%. This infection spreads by droplet transmission and children appear to acquire SARS through close household contact exposure to infected adults. Disease severity is, however, much milder in the paediatric age group. The common laboratory findings in infected children and adolescents include lymphopaenia and elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase and creatinine phosphokinase. Air space consolidation is commonly seen during the course of the illness although chest radiographs are normal on presentation in half of the cases. The pathophysiology of SARS appears to be related to immunological dysregulation in response to the coronavirus infection. The optimal treatment of SARS in children remains to be determined. No case fatality in infected children has been reported. The early and proper isolation of infected adults, meticulous infection control measures in the hospital setting, exhaustive contact tracing and quarantine measures are important steps in preventing the spread of the disease among health care workers and into the community. The development of a sensitive and rapid test for early diagnosis is underway. Further controlled trials are necessary to define the optimal treatment of this infection in children.

Child↗

PubMed2003

3-methyglutaconic aciduria in a Chinese patient with glycogen storage disease Ib.

We report elevated urinary excretion of 3-methylglutaconic (3MGC) and 3-methylglutaric acids (3MGR) in a patient with glycogen storage disease Ib. Combined excretion was 10-fold elevated in comparison to control during inadequate glucose maintenance, and still elevated following dietary improvement. 3MGC acid excretion correlated with plasma lactate and glucose. We speculate that imbalanced gluconeogenesis and de novo cholesterol synthesis result in secondarily increased 3MGC/3MGR production.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Facial anthropometry of Hong Kong Chinese babies.

OBJECTIVES: To provide a database of the craniofacial measurements of Chinese infants born in Hong Kong. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: A total of 2371 healthy singleton, born consecutively at the Prince of Wales Hospital and the Union Hospital from June 1998 to June 2000, were included in the study. The range of gestation was 33-42 weeks. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Measurements included facial width (FW), facial height (FH), nasal length (NL), nasal width (NW), and length of the philtrum (PhilL). The facial, nasal, nasofacial and nasozygomatic indices were derived. The data show generally higher values for males in the parameters measured. The various indices remained remarkably constant and did not vary significantly between the two genders or with gestation. When compared with previously published data for white people term babies, Chinese babies have similar NW but shorter philtrum length. CONCLUSION: The human face appears to grow in a remarkably constant fashion as defined by the various indices of facial proportions. This study establishes the first set of gestational age-specific standard of such craniofacial parameters for Chinese new-borns, potentially enabling early syndromal diagnosis. There are significant inter-racial differences in these craniofacial parameters.

Asian People↗

PubMed2003

Risk factors for childhood overweight in 6- to 7-y-old Hong Kong children.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for overweight in Hong Kong children aged 6-7 y. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Student Health Service Centres, Hong Kong. SUBJECTS: A total of 343 Hong Kong Chinese children aged 6-7 y old categorised into three groups, an overweight group (> or =92 nd centile for BMI), a normal middle-weight group (45th-55th centile for BMI) and a normal low-weight group (< or =8th centile for BMI). MEASUREMENTS: Subjects and their parents/caregivers were interviewed at home. Data on lifestyle habits, dietary habits, family structure and demographic background were collected by questionnaire. A 3-day dietary record was administrated by the parents/caregivers to assess dietary intake of the children. RESULTS: Logistic regression analyses (overweight group compared with middle-weight plus low-weight groups) showed that childhood overweight was significantly associated with parental obesity (BMI > or =25 kg/m(2), Asian reference) (paternal: OR=2.66, 95% CI=1.51-4.70; maternal: 5.07, 2.62-9.79) but not parental overweight (BMI=23-25 kg/m(2)). After adjustment for parental obesity, the odds ratio for childhood overweight was increased by birth weight (<3.0 kg as reference, 3.0-3.5 kg: 2.13, 1.18-3.84; > or =3.5 kg: 4.89, 2.49-9.60) and decreased by sleeping duration (<9 h/day as reference, 9-11 h/day: 0.54, 0.30-0.97; > or =11 h/day: 0.31, 0.11-0.87). Childhood overweight was also significantly associated with higher energy consumption (2.62, 1.20-5.74) and having a father who was a current smoker (2.08, 1.25-3.46). CONCLUSIONS: Although healthy diet and regular exercise will remain the cornerstones of obesity management in children, our data support the view that education about maintaining a healthy weight could be introduced much earlier in those families with high-risk children, as indicated by high parental BMI or high birth weight. The utility and practicality of such an approach should be carefully evaluated before becoming part of any public health policy. Further study of the role of short sleeping duration and parental smoking on childhood obesity development is warranted.

Birth Weight↗

PubMed2003

Craniofacial anthropometry of Hong Kong Chinese babies: the eye.

OBJECTIVES: To provide a database of the canthal measurements of Chinese infants born in Hong Kong. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: A total of 2,371 healthy singleton, born consecutively at the Prince of Wales Hospital and the Union Hospital from June 1998 to June 2000, were included in the study. The range of gestation was 33-42 weeks. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Canthal parameters were measured and included the outer canthal distance (OCD), intercanthal distance (ICD) and palpebral fissure length (PFL). The data generally show higher values for males in the parameters measured. The measurements were also compared with data published overseas. PFL and OCD were significantly larger in Hong Kong Chinese newborn babies, whereas ICD was smaller. CONCLUSION: This study establishes the first set of gestational age-specific standard of such craniofacial parameters for Chinese newborn babies, potentially enabling early syndromal diagnosis. There are significant inter-racial differences in these canthal parameters.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2003

Sociodemographic and atopic factors affecting breastfeeding intention in Chinese mothers.

OBJECTIVE: The factors accounting for the low 'ever breastfeeding' rate in Hong Kong remain unclear. The objective of this survey was to study the intention and planned duration of breastfeeding in Chinese women in Hong Kong, and to investigate the sociodemographic and atopic factors affecting the intention to breastfeed. METHODS: All Chinese mothers who were Hong Kong residents and who delivered their babies in a University teaching hospital were given a self administered and anonymous Chinese questionnaire within 1 day postpartum. The questionnaire included items on sociodemographic data, the presence of allergic diseases in the families, and the intention and planned duration of breastfeeding for their newborn babies. RESULTS: A total of 1374 eligible questionnaires were collected. About one-third of mothers were born outside Hong Kong and the majority (78%) of them were aged between 25 and 40 years. Logistic regression revealed that only socioeconomic factors, namely older maternal age (odds ratio (OR) 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14-3.89), parity (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.02-9.27) and higher educational background (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.92-4.27), significantly affected the intention to breastfeed. In addition, mothers born outside Hong Kong and those with first babies, had a longer intended duration of breastfeeding (P-values < 0.001 and 0.033, respectively). A family history of atopic disorders in parents or siblings did not influence the breastfeeding intention of these Chinese mothers. CONCLUSION: Several sociodemographic factors, rather than a history of atopic disorders, of Chinese mothers in Hong Kong affected their intention to breastfeed and the planned duration of breastfeeding.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

A controlled study of sleep related disordered breathing in obese children.

BACKGROUND: Unlike the adult sleep related disordered breathing (SDB) patients who are typically obese, the relation between obesity and childhood SDB is not clear. AIMS: To investigate whether obese children are more at risk of obstructive SDB when compared to normal population, and whether this risk is potentiated by the presence of pharyngeal lymphoid tissue. METHODS: Forty six obese children (age 10.8 (SD 2.3) years; BMI 27.4 (SD 5.1)), and 44 sex and age matched normal weight children (age 11.7 (SD 2.1) years; BMI 18 (SD 1.8)) were studied. All children underwent a set of physical examinations (including the upper airways) and sleep studies. RESULTS: The obese children were different from the normal weight children in terms of type (predominantly obstructive), frequency, and severity of respiratory disturbances. Depending on the criteria used, 26% or 32.6% of obese children had SDB; 2.3% of normal controls had OAI > or =1 and 4.5% had RDI > or =5. Presence of SDB was related to presence of tonsils (size >2; range 0-4) (OR 12.67, 95% CI 2.14 to 75.17) and BMI (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.33). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that obese children are at increased risk of obstructive SDB; the presence of any pharyngeal lymphoid tissue enlargement in obese children should therefore be aggressively managed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Anti B cell targeted immunotherapy for treatment of refractory autoimmune haemolytic anaemia in a young infant.

We report the case of an 8 week old infant with fulminant autoimmune haemolytic anaemia refractory to conventional immunomodulating treatment. Massive haemolysis resulted in cardiac decompensation and acute renal failure which necessitated mechanical ventilation and peritoneal dialysis. Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, halted progression of the haemolytic process, but the patient died of acute viral pneumonia and disseminated fungal infection. Earlier introduction of rituximab might have prevented the renal complications. Paediatricians should be aware of this useful therapeutic tool for treatment of refractory autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and balance its use against the risk of potential life threatening infection.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗

PubMed2003

The effects of obesity on pulmonary function.

AIMS: (1) To determine the predominant pulmonary function abnormality in our population of obese children; and (2) to assess the correlation between the severity of lung function impairment and the degree of obesity as assessed by dual energy x ray absorptiometry (DEXA). METHODS: Sixty four obese patients underwent physical examination, standardised pulmonary function tests (spirometry, lung volumes, and single breath diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide), and DEXA scan measurements. The trunk and subtotal (total - head) body fat mass were used as surrogate index of body adiposity. RESULTS: Sixteen girls and 48 boys with median age and body mass index (BMI) of 12 years (interquartile range (IQR): 10-14) and 30.1 kg/m2 (IQR: 27.2-32.8) respectively were studied. None of the patients had clinical evidence of cardiopulmonary disease. Reduction in functional residual capacity (median FRC 93% predicted, IQR: 68.5-116.5%) and impairment of diffusion capacity (median DLco 83.5% predicted, IQR: 70.0-100.7%) were the most common abnormalities in our cohort, being observed in 30 (46%) and 21 (33%) patients respectively. Obstructive ventilatory impairment was found in three patients. There was significant negative correlation between the degree of reduction of FRC but not DLco with DEXA scan measurements, but such a relation was not found when BMI was used as the indicator of obesity. CONCLUSION: Reduction in FRC and diffusion impairment were the commonest abnormalities found in our cohort of obese patients. Reduction in static lung volume was correlated with the degree of obesity.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗