Plasma Triglyceride Levels and Coronary Disease

In this issue of the Journal, Kihara et al. report marked hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis in a young woman with autoimmune disease.1 IgA antibodies to lipoprotein lipase appeared to block its function, resulting in marked hypertriglyceridemia. Although the association of autoimmune disease with this degree of hypertriglyceridemia is unusual, Beaumont has been suggesting for 20 years that less severe autoimmune hyperlipidemia may be common.1 Autoimmune disease with antibodies to lipoprotein lipase or hepatic triglyceride lipase may cause mild hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia and contribute to the acquired causes of hyperlipidemia induced by abnormalities in lipoprotein lipase, such as untreated diabetes mellitus, . . .