Pediatric Familial Type Ii Hyperlipoproteinemia: Therapy With Diet and Cholestyramine Resin

Effects of a low-cholesterol, polyunsaturate-rich diet and a synthetic organic bile sequestrant polymer (U26,597A, colestipol) were studied in 21 children, heterozygous for familial hypercholesterolemia. Total cholesterol, beta-lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride were measured twice on habitual diet, monthly for six months on a low-cholesterol diet, and monthly for six months on low-cholesterol diet plus 10 gm of colestipol per day. Total cholesterol (mean +/- 1 SD) was 295 +/- 37 on habitual diet, 278 +/- 29 on low-cholesterol diet, and fell significantly to 242 +/- 29 mg/100 ml on diet plus colestipol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was 234 +/- 37 on habitual diet, 220 +/- 28 on low-cholesterol diet, and fell significantly to 179 +/- 26 mg/100 ml on diet plus drug. Plasma triglyceride levels on habitual diet were 79 +/- 31, remained unchanged on low-cholesterol diet, 86 +/- 22, and were unaffected by low-cholesterol diet plus drug, 85 +/- 17 mg/100 ml. On diet alone, plasma LDL was not normalized (less than 170 mg/100 ml) in any of the 21 children, and cholesterol fell to within normal limits (less than 230 mg/100 ml) in only one child. The combination of diet plus colestipol resin normalized total and LDL cholesterol in 52% of the children. Cholesterol was lowered to a "moderately elevated" range of 230 to 250 mg/100 ml in an additional 14% of the children and LDL was lowered to a range of 170 to 190 mg/100 ml in an additional 29%. In 33% of the children, cholesterol remained greater than 250 mg/100 ml despite diet plus colestipol, while LDL was greater than 190 mg/100 ml in 19%. Colestipol is an effective and well-tolerated cholesterol lowering compound which, in conjunction with diet, may prove to be very useful in the treatment of children heterozygous for familial hypercholesterolemia.