[Atherosclerosis in childhood].

Atherosclerosis and its complications are at the first place in mortality of adult population not only in Czech Republic, but among all developed countries through the world. It is well known today that atherosclerotic changes are present even in childhood, especially in children with mothers with hypercholesterolemia. Primary prevention should be therefore focused on very early stages of atherosclerosis in childhood. In all children the active prevention must start as early as possible and include smoking, obesity, metabolic syndrome, blood lipids and blood pressure. The article contains summary of current knowledge about atherosclerosis in childhood as well as information on the active prevention of its development.