Hypertriglyceridaemia is a rare precipitant of acute pancreatitis. We present a patient with acute pancreatitis and hyponatraemia in association with severe hyperlipidaemia, predominantly hypertriglyceridaemia. The patient was successfully treated with plasma exchange therapy.
RamsayL EWilliamsBJohnstonG DMacGregorG APostonLPotterJ FPoulterN RRussellG. British Hypertension Society guidelines for hypertension management 1999: Summary. Br Med J1999; 319: 630–635.
2.
British Cardiac Society, British Hyperlipidaemia Association, British Hypertension Society, British Diabetic Association. Joint British recommendations on prevention of coronary heart disease in clinical practice: Summary. Br Med J2000; 320: 705–708.
3.
FortsonM RFreedmanS NWebsterP DIII. Clinical assessment of hyperlipidaemic pancreatitis. Am J Gastroenterol1995; 12: 2134–2139.
4.
RichterW OJacobB GRitterM MSchwandtP. Treatment of primary chylomicronaemia due to familial hypertriglyceridemia by w-3 fatty acids. Metabolism1992; 41: 1100–1105.
5.
SharmaPLimSJamesDOrchardR THomeMSeymourC A. Pancreatitis may occur with a normal amylase concentration in hypertriglyceridaemia. Br Med J1996; 313: 1265.
6.
LesserP BWarshawA L. Diagnosis of pancreatitis masked by hyperlipidaemia. Ann Intern Med1975; 82: 795–798.
7.
LennertzAParhoferK GSamtlebenWBoschT. Therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with chylomicronaemia syndrome complicated by acute pancreatitis. Ther Apher1999; 3: 227–233.
8.
BetteridgeD JBakowskiMTaylorK GRecklessJ P DDe SilvaS RGaltonD J. Treatment of severe diabetic hypertriglyceridaemia by plasma exchange. Lancet1978 June 24; 1(8078): 1368.
