Key result
Three cases demonstrated that undiagnosed and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can present initially as acute pancreatitis secondary to severe hypertriglyceridaemia.
Why the study?
Undiagnosed diabetes can cause hypertriglyceridaemia leading to acute pancreatitis, highlighting the need to evaluate lipid profiles and screen for diabetes when common causes are excluded.
Case Report (n=3)
Undiagnosed type 2 diabetes can present as acute pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridaemia, highlighting the need for lipid and diabetes screening in patients with pancreatitis of unknown etiology.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports lipid profiling in unexplained pancreatitis; leaves open whether glycaemic control reduces recurrence risk.
In some patients undiagnosed diabetes may present with metabolic complications of diabetes as their initial presentation. Suboptimal glycaemic control in diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes can cause hypertriglyceridaemia which can cause pancreatitis. In patients presenting with pancreatitis where common causes of pancreatitis are excluded hypertriglyceridaemia should be considered as a cause and hence their lipid profile should be evaluated. If hypertriglyceridaemia is confirmed, then such a patient should be screened for diabetes. We present three cases presenting to hospital with pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridaemia. Hypertriglyceridaemia in all three were secondary to undiagnosed and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. Early treatment of hypertriglyceridaemia can prevent morbidity and mortality. Diagnosing type 2 diabetes in this context can result in optimisation of glycaemic control, and hence improve hypertriglyceridaemia and reduce the risk of recurrent attacks of pancreatitis.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Khaqan et al. (2021) conducted a case report in Acute pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridaemia and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (n=3). Undiagnosed type 2 diabetes and hypertriglyceridaemia was evaluated. Three cases demonstrated that undiagnosed and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can present initially as acute pancreatitis secondary to severe hypertriglyceridaemia.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: