Drug therapy of high-risk lipid abnormalities, particularly lowering of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, has resulted in great advances in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in adults. Definitive evidence now indicates that the atherosclerotic disease process begins in childhood and that the rate of progression is greatly increased by lipid abnormalities and their severity. The prevalence of lipid abnormalities in children is increasing, primarily in association with the concomitant epidemic of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Because overweight and associated lipid abnormalities in children have been shown to persist or track into adulthood, the epidemic of increased cardiovascular risk may soon burgeon into an epidemic of premature cardiovascular disease. Although effective population-based strategies are essential and the first priority to reversing this trend, selected individuals with more extreme lipid abnormalities or associated high-risk conditions or risk factors may be identified for whom lifestyle interventions are not sufficiently effective and drug therapy may be of benefit. Although there has been a general reluctance to use drug therapy to treat lipid abnormalities in children,1 increasing evidence suggests effectiveness and short-term safety similar to those in adults.

McCrindle, B. (2006). "Hyperlipidemia in children." Thrombosis Research 118: 49-58.