Novel insights on the treatment of hypercholesterolemia

The diagnosis of dyslipidemia is increasing both in adulthood and in childhood because of not only the steadily increasing prevalence of obesity but also a rise of medical attention in detecting unfavorable genetic conditions in patients of all ages. Attempts in lifestyle changes are frequently failing and thus the pharmacological treatment of dyslipidemia is spreading in medical practice to reduce cardiovascular risk. In childhood, statins are authorized by 8 years of age. Nevertheless, data on their long-term safety and efficacy are still lacking, especially in ones with high cardiovascular risk and/or primary dyslipidemia such as homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, considerable as a mainly exclusively pediatric disease. Thus, new pharmacological approaches are needed and have to be evaluated in all categories of patients. In this context, the update and the critical revision of new medications have become a new duty for scientists and clinicians.