Resumen

GUNCZLER, Peter. Síndrome de resistencia a la insulina en niños y adolescentes. Gac Méd Caracas [online]. 2006, vol.114, n.2, pp.99-103. ISSN 0367-4762.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the presence of insulin resistance syndrome in children and adolescents, considering that until recently this was considered a rare entity in the pediatric population, which was limited to adult medicine. In the last decades there has been a considerable increase of type 2 diabetes in children, reaching epidemic levels, which mirrors the increment of childhood obesity and therefore the presence of insulin resistance (metabolic syndrome, X syndrome, or insulin resistance syndrome). In this study we analyze the pathophysiology, the clinical characteristics and the biochemical parameters to define this syndrome, as well as recent studies done by our pediatric endocrine unit showing the relationship between glucose/insulin in basal conditions in patients with different grades of obesity, utilizing mathematical indices to help define the presence of insulin resistance. Finally we make considerations about prevention and recent treatments modalities to avoid the development of diabetes, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular complications.