Familial hypercholesterolemia: what are the recommendations for children?

Drug therapy may be indicated in FH children to reduce the risk of premature cardiovascular complications in adulthood. This treatment should be started on specialist advice, taking into account the level of LDL-c after dietary treatment and the associated cardiovascular risk factors. When a drug therapy is indicated, statins are used as a first line treatment from the age of 8 to 10 years. In the absence of information about the long-term effects of stain therapy, this treatment should be monitored regularly in a specialized department. The frequency of FH in the population, the importance of its premature CV risks and the possibility of an effective and well tolerated treatment justify a widespread screening during childhood from the age of 2 to 3 years o 3 years.