An Interesting Case of Hypertriglyceridaemic Pancreatitis

Abstract

Hypertriglyceridaemia is a well-known but uncommon cause of acute pancreatitis. A serum triglyceride level of more than 1000mg/ dl is needed to precipitate the pancreatitis. A 35 year male patient, who was a known diabetic who was on oral hypoglycaemics, presented to us with pain in the abdomen and vomiting of one day’s duration. His serum amylase was normal. The serum was highly lactescent. The triglycerides were 1901mg/dl. CECT of the abdomen showed features which were suggestive of pancreatitis. The patient was managed just as the pancreatitis of any other eitiology. He was started on fibrates, atorvastatin, and antioxidants to prevent a relapse. His diabetes was controlled by insulin. He recovered well.

Keywords

• hypertriglyceridaemia
• pancreatitis
• hyperlipidaemia