Early testing for familial cholesterol

According to a BMJ study, based on a review of 13 studies, the researchers suggested that children could be screened at about 15 months of age for familial high cholesterol because the disorder is often inherited.

If children are tested positive for high cholesterol, doctors would screen the parents and drug treatment could begin immediately for the adults.

Full text of the article "Child-parent screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia: screening strategy based on a meta-analysis". BMJ 2007;335(7620):599 is available with an Athens password at the HILO website.

Statin delays artery damage in FH children

According to a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study in the Netherlands, statin therapy is safe and effective in treating children with familial hypercholesterolemia ( FH ), researchers found that early initiation of statin treatment in FH children as young as 8 delays the early artery damage.

214 children of 8 - 18 were randomised to receive treatment with pravastatin 20 or 40 mg depending on their age or placebo for 2 years.

Follow-up data for 186 children with an average of treatment period of 4.5 years showed that earlier initiation of statin treatment results in a smaller carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) at a later age. Furthermore, no serious clinical or laboratory adverse events were reported.

The results showed that the age of statin initiation was a strong, independent predictor for the increased thickening between the intima and media, however, the researchers suggested further clinical trials will be required to determine the optimal age for beginning statin therapy in FH children.

The study "Statin Treatment in Children With Familial Hypercholesterolemia: The Younger, the Better" is published in the journal Circulation. 2007; 116: 664-668