Hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis

Case contributed by Yaïr Glick
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Pricking upper abdominal pain, radiating to chest and back, worsening on movement/lying down.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Female

Edematous pancreas, especially uncinate process, head, and neck, with fluid tracking between lobules. Extensive peripancreatic fluid collection. Reactive wall edema in duodenum surrounding the pancreatic head. A small amount of free intraperitoneal fluid in the lower abdomen.

Case Discussion

Amylase 114 IU/L (normal 28-100 IU/L), lipase 224 U/L (normal 13-60 U/L), cholesterol 501 mg/dL (normal 120-200 mg/dL), triglycerides 5489 mg/dL (normal 50-150 mg/dL). 

Hypertriglyceridemia treated urgently with plasmapheresis.

Hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis comprises 7% of cases of pancreatitis and is considered the third most common cause of pancreatitis after gallstones and alcohol 1.

How to use cases

You can use Radiopaedia cases in a variety of ways to help you learn and teach.

Creating your own cases is easy.

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.