Management of familial hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis during pregnancy with therapeutic plasma exchange: a case report and review of literature.

Abstract

Familial severe hypertriglyceridemia (levels greater than 1000 mg/dL) is a known cause of acute pancreatitis. Pregnancy can dysregulate controlled lipid levels in women with familial hypertriglyceridemia and lead to acute pancreatitis and significant morbidity in both mother and fetus. We report a case of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis during pregnancy that was successfully treated using therapeutic plasma exchange, resulting in delivery of a healthy preterm infant. Therapeutic plasma exchange is an effective approach to treat gestational hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis. Other treatment options include combined heparin and insulin infusion. Moreover, particular caution should be applied when interpreting the results of prothrombin time in the setting of severe hypertriglyceridemia as false elevation with testing methods could happen.

• Authors: Fadi Safi, Anis Toumeh, Mahmoud A Abuissa Qadan, Rana Karaz, Bassam AlAkdar, Ragheb Assaly
• Journal: American journal of therapeutics (Am J Ther) 2014 Sep-Oct Vol. 21 Issue 5 Pg. e134-6 ISSN: 1536-3686 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22926234 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Review)

Chemical References

• Triglycerides

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adult
• Female
• Humans
• Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IV (blood, complications)
• Pancreatitis (etiology, therapy)
• Plasma Exchange
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications (therapy)
• Triglycerides (blood)