Lipid-lowering medications for children and adolescents.

As demonstrated by the 2011 publication of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents, the information available regarding the treatment of pediatric lipid disorders has greatly expanded. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, or statin, therapy is now considered a first-line pharmacologic intervention for pediatric patients with severe dyslipidemias failing treatment with diet and exercise alone. Despite their ability to effectively reduce cholesterol levels, bile acid sequestrants continue to pose challenges for pediatric patients because of their unpalatability and are typically used as adjunctive therapy or for patients not able to tolerate statins.