Lipid Screening in Children and Adolescents

The only need for cholesterol screening in children and adolescents is to identify pediatric patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), since early disease detection is crucial in order to facilitate treatment to prevent coronary artery disease.

Advanced Lipoprotein Fingerprinting is a more precise cholesterol test that allows doctors to identify health risks that traditional screens miss. Doctors now have a precise reading not only of a patient's cholesterol levels but other independent risk factors known to be associated with heart disease.

The process separates lipids in the blood to create a detailed cholesterol profile that helps doctors identify patients at risk for heart disease. The detailed graph allows a doctor to precisely analyze a patient's overall risk profile and monitor the effectiveness of a diet or treatment regimen.

This advanced analytical techniques that can help doctors diagnose early warning signs for coronary heart disease, which kills more than 2,600 Americans a day, according to the American Heart Association. High LDL cholesterol is a major cause of coronary heart disease, according to the National Cholesterol Education Program.

Aiming to identify early risk factors, the National Cholesterol Education Program issued guidelines calling for more comprehensive cholesterol screens as well as other risk factors not included in the cholesterol screen.

Early detection, particularly in youth, is the key to slowing down the development of heart disease in later life. Advanced cholesterol screening is a valuable tool that is gaining acceptance among medical insurers.

Texas A&M University researchers created Advanced Lipoprotein Fingerprinting as a more precise cholesterol test that allows doctors to identify health risks that traditional screens miss. LipidLabs further refined the Advanced Lipoprotein Fingerprinting Process and made Advanced Lipoprotein Fingerprinting available for commercialization. LipidLabs' results translate to more accurate and specific data on which to make clinical judgments and guide patient therapy and prevention at reasonable costs.

1. Age Between 2 and Up to 20 Years and No Prior Screening?
The guideline applies to children and young adults between the ages of two and twenty years. Children prior to the age of two years do not require lipid status assessment. Adults 20 years old or older should be screened for their lipid status
Once a child or adolescent has been screened any time between the ages of 2 to 20, they do not need to have the screening repeated.

2. Parent with Pretreatment Total Cholesterol >300?
Adult FH heterozygotes have pretreatment cholesterol levels in the 300 to 500 mg/dL range. Adult FH homozygotes have untreated cholesterol levels greater than 500 mg/dl. Increase appropriate screening for children at risk for FH.

3. Measure Total Cholesterol
Measurement of non-fasting serum total cholesterol is recommended for children and young adults who have either a first-degree relative with a history of premature CHD prior to the age of 55 years for men and 65 years for women.

4. Total Cholesterol >200?
A total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL is the cutoff for individuals at risk for FH. Total cholesterol greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL requires further clinical assessment.

5. LDL-Cholesterol >164?
An LDL-cholesterol of 164 mg/dL has been shown to be the most discriminating level for identifying FH. Borderline levels (155-175 mg/dL) should be repeated to obtain an average. Clinicians should also obtain cholesterol levels from the parents.

The guideline applies to children and young adults between the ages of two and twenty years. Children prior to the age of two years do not require lipid status assessment. Adults 20 years old or older should be screened for their lipid status Once a child or adolescent has been screened any time between the ages of 2 to 20, they do not need to have the screening repeated.

Dr. D.S. Merchant Resident Medicine
Gold Medalist (Anatomy & Histology)
Visit: Advanced Lipid Cholesterol Screening

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