Pediatric atherosclerosis

What is pediatric atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the buildup of a plaque made of fat cells (lipids) and cholesterol in the arteries. Atherosclerosis increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and cardiac arrest. Just like adults, children can be diagnosed with atherosclerosis. However, atherosclerosis is more likely to be asymptomatic in children than it is in adults.

Arteries are tiny tubes in the body that circulate blood from the heart to tissues and organs throughout the body. When the tubes become narrowed, they are not as efficient at transporting blood. And the plaque builds up in the arteries can cause various cardiovascular health problems.

The good news is, in most children with atherosclerosis, damage to the arteries is mild. And the disease’s progression can be stalled or even reversed through treatment.

How is pediatric atherosclerosis diagnosed?

Pediatric atherosclerosis can be harder to detect than adult atherosclerosis, especially in younger kids. This is because the damage the disease causes happens over time. So, our providers diligently and proactively assess children’s risk factors for atherosclerosis.

As we evaluate your child’s risk for atherosclerosis, we may:

• Take a blood sample to assess cholesterol and triglyceride levels
• Ask questions about your family's history of cardiac events
• Recommend genetic testing

Some children may not get diagnosed until their teenage years, once atherosclerosis has had a chance to affect their arteries and heart. For children diagnosed with atherosclerosis, we may recommend doing cardiac imaging to assess how well treatment is working when they become a teenager.

While some children with atherosclerosis may not have symptoms, early diagnosis and treatment is vital to preventing a medical emergency later in life for your child. The sooner we can diagnose and treat your child, the better we can slow, stop or even reverse the damage atherosclerosis can cause.

What causes pediatric atherosclerosis?

There are various risk factors for children developing atherosclerosis, including:

• Chemotherapy - Some chemotherapy treatments can cause problems in the heart and vascular system.
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) - Chronic kidney disease has been linked to cardiovascular disease.
• Depressive and bipolar disorders - Depression and anxiety disorders can contribute to heart disease by affecting heart rhythms, blood pressure, blood clotting, insulin, and cholesterol.
• Diabetes - High glucose (sugar) levels in the blood can damage blood vessels.
• Dyslipidemia - A disorder that affects cholesterol levels.
• Family history - Cardiovascular disease can run in families.
• Heart transplant - This procedure can cause problems in the heart and vascular system.
• High blood pressure - (also called hypertension) damages the lining of the arteries, making them more susceptible to plaque.
• High cholesterol or triglycerides - Cholesterol and triglycerides are types of lipids, or fat, in the blood that help us turn food into energy, but too high levels of them can cause plaque that clogs arteries.
• Kawasaki disease - Causes inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body.
• Obesity, an unhealthy diet and an inactive lifestyle - These things can increase blood pressure and glucose levels, raise cholesterol levels, cause inflammation in the arteries and cause other problems with the heart and vascular system.
• Smoking and secondhand smoke - Smoking damages the lining of arteries, making them susceptible to fatty buildup.

How is pediatric atherosclerosis treated?

Our goal for pediatric atherosclerosis treatment is to lower your child’s cholesterol levels.

This will likely include:

• Statins - These medications, which can be prescription or over-the-counter, lower cholesterol and bring down the swelling in your child’s arteries. There are usually no or very few side effects from using statin medications long-term. They are the best way to set your child’s bloodstream up for lasting success and your child can safely take these medications into adulthood.
• Developing healthy lifestyle habits - A healthy diet will help bring your child’s cholesterol levels down by limiting how many lipids enter their bloodstream. Consistent exercise will help your child use up the lipids that do enter their bloodstream before they can accumulate into plaque. Our team of nutrition experts will also help your child come up with a nutrition plan that matches their preferences and routine.
• Treatment plan - Our specialists work with your child to create a treatment plan tailored to their needs and preferences so they are more likely to successfully complete the program. Once we develop a treatment plan for your child, we’ll see them every 6 months for the first year of their care. After that, we’ll need to see them once a year to ensure the treatment is effective.