Incidence of acute pancreatitis in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients with hypertriglyceridemia: is it really high?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the incidence of acute pancreatitis in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients with triglyceride (TG) greater than 500 mg/dL after highly active antiretroviral therapy.

METHODS:

Sequential TG levels during follow-up and episodes of acute pancreatitis were retrospectively reviewed in 347, 417, and 571 patients enrolled in periods 1 (2000-2002), 2 (2003-2005), and 3 (2006-2008), respectively. The incidence of acute pancreatitis, defined as consistent clinical symptoms and elevated amylase and/or lipase levels, was estimated.

RESULTS:

A total of 5356 TG measurements were performed during the follow-up for 698.22, 884.14, and 1215.69 person-years in periods 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Overall, 9.89% of patients had at least one TG greater than 500 mg/dL. Five patients with TG less than 500 mg/dL developed acute pancreatitis. The crude incidences of acute pancreatitis were 0.6%, 0.5%, and 0.2%, and the incidence rates were 2.86, 2.26, and 0.82/1000 person-years in periods 1, 2 and 3, respectively (all, P > 0.05). The incidence rates of acute pancreatitis when TG levels were less than 500, less than 1000, and less than 1500 mg/dL ranged from 1.2 to 4.9/1000 person-years, whereas it was 0/1000 person-years when TG levels were greater than 500, greater than 1000, and greater than 1500 mg/dL, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

The risk of acute pancreatitis was low among human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients who developed hypertriglyceridemia after receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

• Authors: Hsin-Yun Sun, Sui-Yuan Chang, Wang-Huei Sheng, Mao-Yuan Chen, Szu-Min Hsieh, Yu-Tzu Tseng, Ching-Lan Lu, Chia-Jui Yang, Hsiu Wu, Wen-Chun Liu, Cheng-Hsin Wu, Chien-Ching Hung, Shan-Chwen Chang
• Journal: Pancreas (Pancreas) Vol. 41 Issue 2 Pg. 283-9 (Mar 2012) ISSN: 1536-4828 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22343978 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Triglycerides
• Lipase
• PNLIP protein, human
• Amylases

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adult
• Amylases (blood)
• Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active (adverse effects)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Female
• HIV Infections (diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology, virology)
• Humans
• Hypertriglyceridemia (blood, diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Incidence
• Lipase (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pancreatitis (blood, diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Regression Analysis
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Factors
• Taiwan (epidemiology)
• Time Factors
• Triglycerides (blood)
• Young Adult