The rationale for lowering serum cholesterol levels in American children
S. S. Gidding
Division of Cardiology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60614.
The pediatric approach to the primary prevention of coronary artery disease
in adults remains controversial. Measurement and intervention to lower
serum cholesterol levels have been advocated recently in a selected group
of American children by the Expert Panel on Blood Cholesterol Levels in
Children and Adolescents of the National Cholesterol Education Program.
This article reviews the clinical and scientific data contributing to the
controversy surrounding cholesterol in American children. Arguments in
favor of and opposed to an aggressive approach to identifying American
children with elevated serum cholesterol levels are presented. The
rationale for a selective screening approach is demonstrated.
