Dyslipidemic Clinic

Cape Fear Pediatric Endocrinology is proud to offer the region’s first Dyslipidemic Clinic, a comprehensive program for cholesterol disorders in children. Dyslipidemia are disorders of lipoprotein metabolism that result in abnormal excesses of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and deficiency of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).

Dyslipidemia is an established risk factor for coronary heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. There is good evidence that children with lipid disorders are at risk for becoming adults with cardiovascular disease. Children of parents with elevated cholesterol have a higher prevalence of developing coronary heart disease later in life.

Identifying children with dyslipidemia could lead to interventions that could prevent or delay adult cardiovascular disease. Most treatment recommendations advise a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, and exercise and weight loss. However, in profound cases of elevated cholesterol, diet alone is not sufficient to lower the elevated cholesterol, and the use of pharmacological treatment is indicated.

What the Clinic Includes:

• Diagnosis and treatment of disorders of cholesterol
• Screening for co-existing hypertension, risk for diabetes and lifestyle or obesity-related target organ damage
• Nutritional education to teach families how to reduce dietary fat and cholesterol
• Continuing care and close follow-up