Screening of children with high familial risk of arteriosclerosis

Serum total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and total triglyceride levels were determined in children with high risk arteriosclerotic family history. Significantly higher TC and lower HDL-C levels were found in children whose parents' first arteriosclerotic sign had appeared before 40 years of age. There were no similar significant alterations observed in children whose parents' first arteriosclerotic symptom appeared after the forties. Screening therefore seems to be necessary in the offsprings of patients if the first sign of arteriosclerosis has been detected before 40 years of age.