Dallas
214-456-2333
Fax: 214-456-2714
Plano
469-303-4300
Fax: 469-303-4310
Prosper
972-331-9700
Fax: 972-331-9833
Request an Appointment with codes: Cardiology (Heart Center)
At Children's Health℠, we have become a “home base” of comprehensive care for children at risk for developing atherosclerosis (ath·ero·scle·ro·sis). We are one of the few hospitals in the country that provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for both high blood pressure and high cholesterol in children — the two top contributors to atherosclerosis.
As the children we treat grow up, we also help transition them into adult care programs at UT Southwestern. That way, your child can achieve lasting heart and blood vessel health through continued access to the care that will help them live long, fulfilling lives.
214-456-2333
Fax: 214-456-2714
469-303-4300
Fax: 469-303-4310
972-331-9700
Fax: 972-331-9833
Request an Appointment with codes: Cardiology (Heart Center)
Atherosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the buildup of a plaque made of fat cells (lipids) and cholesterol in the arteries. Atherosclerosis increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and cardiac arrest. Just like adults, children can be diagnosed with atherosclerosis. However, atherosclerosis is more likely to be asymptomatic in children than it is in adults.
Arteries are tiny tubes in the body that circulate blood from the heart to tissues and organs throughout the body. When the tubes become narrowed, they are not as efficient at transporting blood. And the plaque builds up in the arteries can cause various cardiovascular health problems.
The good news is, in most children with atherosclerosis, damage to the arteries is mild. And the disease’s progression can be stalled or even reversed through treatment.
Pediatric atherosclerosis can be harder to detect than adult atherosclerosis, especially in younger kids. This is because the damage the disease causes happens over time. So, our providers diligently and proactively assess children’s risk factors for atherosclerosis.
As we evaluate your child’s risk for atherosclerosis, we may:
Some children may not get diagnosed until their teenage years, once atherosclerosis has had a chance to affect their arteries and heart. For children diagnosed with atherosclerosis, we may recommend doing cardiac imaging to assess how well treatment is working when they become a teenager.
While some children with atherosclerosis may not have symptoms, early diagnosis and treatment is vital to preventing a medical emergency later in life for your child. The sooner we can diagnose and treat your child, the better we can slow, stop or even reverse the damage atherosclerosis can cause.
There are various risk factors for children developing atherosclerosis, including:
Our goal for pediatric atherosclerosis treatment is to lower your child’s cholesterol levels.
This will likely include:
Yes. Not taking medication consistently can lead to emergency events, such as heart attack or strokes. Our team of expert pediatric cardiologists are involved in research working to develop a new medication that would be a once-a-year injection that could lower a child’s cholesterol by up to 70%.
There are also other injection medications already available that are only required a few times each year. Until these medications become more widely available, daily oral statin medications are the best way to ensure your child’s atherosclerosis does not progress, however, if your child struggles to routinely take their medications, ask your pediatric cardiologist about newer injection medications that have (or are about to) become available.
Yes. The child will always have to take the medications to do this, however, treating kids early on in childhood offers a chance to reverse the disease over time and eventually stop it from causing any damage to your child’s heart and arteries.
If we can treat kids before plaque forms, we can reverse the disease completely. If your child develops atherosclerosis to the point where plaque starts to form in their arteries, it can be much harder to break that down and reverse the disease’s progression.