Early atherosclerosis in childhood: Diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies

The long preclinical phase of atherosclerosis involves the interaction of genetic and environmental factors that modulate the progression of disease from early life. Injury to the endothelium is a critical step in atherosclerotic process. Conventional and novel risk factors for coronary artery disease operate from early in life. Noninvasive methods, using mostly ultrasound techniques, have enabled the assessment of early functional and structural arterial disease progression even from the first decade of life. These measures have been shown to be good surrogate markers for atherosclerotic disease progression and future clinical cardiovascular events. Lifestyle and dietary modifications as well as pharmacological interventions have beneficial effects in prevention and restoration of the early arterial changes.