Treating High Cholesterol in Children

In the Bogalusa, Louisiana Heart Study, a large group of school children participated in an eight year follow-up program which involved measurements of blood lipids.  During this eight year period, some of the children died from trauma (accidents, suicide, etc.) and examinations were made of their arteries.  It could be shown that the levels of TC and LDL were associated with the amount of deposits of cholesterol in the walls of coronary arteries and the aorta.  These findings indicated that children with high levels of total and LDL, even by early teenage years, have begun to accumulate deposits of cholesterol.  By age 21, these deposits can already produce significant obstruction.  Finally, there is a tiny group of children, about one in a million, who have inherited two abnormal genes for high cholesterol.  These children typically have total cholesterol levels of 600 to 1,000 mg/dl, mostly LDL.  Usually before age 10, and almost always before age 15, these children develop severe cholesterol deposits in their arteries, almost always have heart attacks, and usually do not live much past age 15.

High cholesterol in children comes from the same sources as for adults.  After evaluating a child we initiate a safe and effective diet.  Generally, we will follow the effects of diet alone over a six month period, with a visit every two months to re-check the lipid profile.  If the lipid levels have not normalized on diet alone, we will begin drug intervention.  Two very safe and effective bile acid-binding resins are currently available for childhood treatment.  With the inherited form of hypercholesterolemia, diet and drugs intervention will reduce TC and LDL by 20% or more.

Jewish Hospital Cholesterol Center, Charles J. Glueck MD, Director, James E. Lang MD, Associate Director, LeAnn Coberly MD Assistant Medical Director. Jewish Hospital Cholesterol Center, 3200 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229. 

E-mail: glueckch@healthall.com
or cglueck@fuse.net
Fax: 513-585-7950