Statin and Its Use in Children: A Review Brief

Abstract

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a disease that occurs causes death among adult patients who previously had a history of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in childhood. The main cause of FH is gene mutation in the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor from birth because the mother inherits it. The form of FH consists of two types, namely heterozygous and homozygous. Heterozygous FH is the most usual form of gene abnormalities in children with FH with a prevalence of 1 per 137-250 of the general population. Lipid-lowering drugs are often used adults in hyperlipidemia but rarely used in children. It can be given as a preventative agent so that it does not develop into ASCVD. For FH, statins have been recommended as a first-line treatment for hyperlipidemia, because it has a significant LDL reduction effect. One of the statins that have the most prominent reduction in LDL is with the use of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin. When viewed from various studies on statin use in the long term, pravastatin used for 20 years has a significant reduction in LDL of 32% and is proven to have no side effects. Most statin has mild side effects that commonly report in adults, rhabdomyolysis, but in children is rarely. In other words, statins well tolerated in children.