Cardiovascular findings in familial hypercholesterolemic children

Four child patients (1 male and 3 females) with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) were examined. They were 4y4m to 9y8m of age on admission. A female patient at age 5y7m on admission had already experienced anginal attacks. Ischemic change was found on exercise ECG in 2 patients. Grade 1/6 to 3/6 (Levine) systolic ejection type murmur was audible in all patients. Cardiac catheterization was carried out in all patients. Supravalvular aortic stenosis was found and so-called atherosclerotic wall thickening was also noticed in 3 of them. Narrowing of the coronary arteries was found in only 1 patient who complained of anginal pain. Supravalvular aortic stenosis was more prevalent than coronary artery disorders in FH children and this lesion was also detected by echocardiography. Therefore, follow-up by echocardiography seems to be very useful in assessing the progression of atherosclerosis in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia.