ASSOCIATION OF CAROTID INTIMA MEDIA THICKNESS WITH BLOOD PRESSURE AND HDL CHOLESTEROL IN CHILDREN Background: Cardiovascular risk factors must be controlled since childhood. Aim: To assess the association of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) with the components of the metabolic syndrome in Children. Material and methods: Cross sectional assessment of 299 children aged 11.5 ± 0.9 years (58% women) with and without metabolic syndrome components. Anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were measured and a blood sample was obtained to measure blood glucose and lipids. CIMT was measured using high resolution ultrasound. Results: Ninety three percent of children were post puberal, 64% were overweight and 25% had metabolic syndrome. Mean and maximum CIMT correlated with systolic blood pressure ( r=0.21 and 0.21 respectively p < 0.01). Children with a CIMT over the 75th percentile had higher blood pressure and lower HDL cholesterol. A stepwise logistic regression accepted both variables as predictors of CIMT with odds ratios for mean CIMT of 1.46 (1.19-1-79) and 0.81(0.7-0.94) per five units of change, respectively. Conclusions: In this group of children systolic blood pressure and HDL cholesterol are associated to CIMT.