Lipid, cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers in children with cerebral palsy: a cross-sectional comparative study

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by disturbances in motor function and movement regulation that result in delayed development and lasting physical disabilities. In addition to neurological deficits, evidence suggests that CP may be associated with metabolic and cardiovascular changes. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate lipid, cardiac, and inflammatory biomarkers in children with cerebral palsy to assess their potential risk of cardiovascular dysfunction. Blood samples were collected from 40 children with cerebral palsy and 20 healthy controls of the age group 1–12 years. Serum markers of cardiac health, including LDH-L (Lactate Dehydrogenase–Liver), CK-MB (Creatine Kinase–Myocardial Band), CRP (C-reactive protein), HDL-C (High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol), LDL-C (Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol), and VLDL-C (Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol), were analyzed using a clinical chemistry analyzer. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels were quantified using an ELISA method. Among the children with CP, mixed CP was the most common form (57%), followed by quadriplegic spastic (30%), diplegic spastic (8%), and ataxic (5%), with the majority (82.5%) from rural backgrounds. Compared with healthy controls, CP patients exhibited significant dyslipidemia, including elevated triglycerides (P < 0.001) and LDL-C (P = 0.026), as well as markedly reduced HDL-C levels (P < 0.001). Additionally, cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers showed significant alterations, with increased CK-MB (P = 0.001), LDH-L (P = 0.015), and CRP (P < 0.001), in CP patients compared with controls. Alterations in lipid metabolism and cardiac enzyme activity suggest a predisposition to early-onset cardiometabolic complications. Early monitoring and management of these biochemical disturbances may help alleviate long-term cardiovascular risks in pediatric CP populations.