Drug therapy for hypercholesterolemia and dyslipidemia

Abstract

The initial and primary treatment of abnormal lipid levels in children is to change diet and activity levels. Pharmacological treatment of lipid disorders is used according to guidelines published in 2011. In adults treatment cutpoints and goals for therapy are adjusted based on high risk populations and in the presence of other cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. Pediatric lipid guidelines also reflect this type of thinking, although the data on which treatment cutpoints are based is less robust than adults. Atherosclerosis is known to begin in childhood; however, extensive outcome data are lacking in pediatrics and parental and/or patient preference are usually included in the decision-making process.