Secondary prevention with lipid lowering therapy in familial hypercholesterolemia: a correlation between new evolution of stenotic lesion and achieved cholesterol levels after revascularization procedures

Triple Vessel Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in a 14-year-old Child with Familial Hypercholesterolemia-A Rare Case Report

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene. The homozygous type of the disease is rare and causes tendon xanthomas and coronary artery disease during the early years of life. Premature coronary artery occlusive disease in familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia might necessitate coronary bypass surgery in children and young adults We present the case of a 14-year-old boy with familial hypercholesterolemia and coronary artery disease. He underwent triple-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting with bilateral pedicled internal mammary artery and saphenous vein grafting without adverse events. Pediatric patients with familial hypercholesterolemia may present with premature coronary atherosclerosis requiring coronary artery bypass grafting. In situ internal mammary artery grafts should be the graft of choice. To the best of our knowledge, he is one of the youngest such patients reported in the English-language literature who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery.

Lipid lowering and coronary bypass graft surgery

This article reviews the rationale for lipid lowering in patients who have coronary heart disease, and specifically for post-bypass patients. It has been well demonstrated that after coronary artery bypass graft surgery, atherosclerosis continues to progress in the native circulation and develops at an accelerated rate in saphenous vein bypass grafts. During the last decade, numerous clinical trials based on angiographic or clinical outcomes have clearly shown the beneficial effect of lipid lowering in coronary heart disease. Three trials (CLAS, post-CABG, and CARE) have demonstrated delayed progression of atherosclerosis in SVGs and/or a reduction of cardiac deaths, nonfatal MI, and the need for revascularization after lowering LDL-cholesterol. The recommended target of LDL cholesterol level of more than 100 mg/dl can be safely reached with diet and monotherapy using one of the statin drugs (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors). Despite this widely-circulated information, there appears to be inadequate public and professional awareness of the importance of properly managing hyperlipidemia after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.