Acute hypertrygliceridemic pancreatitis

• Published in: Gastroenterología y hepatología Vol. 36; no. 4; p. 274
• Main Authors: Senosiain Lalastra, Carla, Tavío Hernández, Eduardo, Moreira Vicente, Victor, Maroto Castellanos, Maite, García Sánchez, Maria Concepción, Aicart Ramos, Marta, Téllez Vivajos, Luis, Cuño Roldán, José Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.04.2013
• Subjects: Abdominal Pain - etiology; Acute Disease; Alcoholism - complications; Amylases - blood; Diabetes Complications; Diagnostic Errors; Disease Susceptibility; False Negative Reactions; Female; Fluid Therapy; Food, Formulated; Heparin - therapeutic use; Humans; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IV - complications; Hypertriglyceridemia - blood; Hypertriglyceridemia - complications; Hypertriglyceridemia - therapy; Insulin - therapeutic use; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Nausea - etiology; Obesity - complications; Pancreatitis - diagnosis; Pancreatitis - etiology; Pancreatitis - therapy; Plasmapheresis; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - diagnosis; Pregnancy Complications - therapy; Sodium - blood
• ISSN: 0210-5705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gastrohep.2012.11.006

Acute hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis is the third cause of acute pancreatitis in the Western population. There is usually an underlying alteration in lipid metabolism and a secondary factor. Clinical presentation is similar to that of pancreatitis of other etiologies, but the course of acute hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis seems to be worse and more recurrent. Some laboratory data can be artefacts, leading to diagnostic errors. This is the case of amylase, which can show false low levels. Treatment is based on intense fluidotherapy and analgesia. When there is no response to conservative management, other methods to lower triglyceride levels should be used. Several options are available, such as plasmapheresis, insulin, and heparin. The present article provides a review of the current literature on this entity.