1 Primary Care Department, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195-5223
In Reply.
Dr Robertson is concerned about cholesterol screening in childhood as it relates to changing the diet of American children and subjecting a large number of children to pharmacotherapy for hypercholesterolemia. He raises several questions regarding the cost of a cholesterol screening program and whether or not there is evidence that dietary therapy (or drug therapy) will really make a difference as far as future coronary artery disease is concerned.
The purpose of the cholesterol screening program was to identify children with hypercholesterolemia and to discuss with their families the various coronary risk factors which are recognized as important for future coronary artery disease.