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Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Advances in Understanding the Early Natural History

  • Pediatrics (SS Gidding, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a very common inherited disorder of lipoprotein metabolism, associated with increased cholesterol levels from birth onwards and premature coronary artery disease. In order to prevent cardiovascular disease at a young age, children and young adults with FH should be identified and treated as early as possible. Nowadays, several different screening strategies have been developed, using either universal screening or case finding screening to search for children with FH. Currently, a number of treatment options for those children are available, and drugs of first choice are statins. However, there is still a need for long term follow up studies to answer the question whether it is justified to start treatment at a young age and prevents CVD later in life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Marjet J. A. M. Braamskamp & Albert Wiegman

  2. Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Marjet J. A. M. Braamskamp

  3. Department of Pediatrics and Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Marjet J. A. M. Braamskamp

Authors
  1. Marjet J. A. M. Braamskamp
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  2. Albert Wiegman
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Correspondence to Marjet J. A. M. Braamskamp.

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Braamskamp, M.J.A.M., Wiegman, A. Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Advances in Understanding the Early Natural History. Curr Cardiovasc Risk Rep 6, 562–566 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12170-012-0279-4

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