Ayurveda in the management of infant hyperlipidemia: A case report

Hypertriglyceridemia is a rare disorder in childhood. Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome (FCS) is a rare genetic disease that leads to severe hypertriglyceridemia, often associated with recurrent episodes of pancreatitis. In this syndrome, traditional lipid-lowering drugs are marginally effective. A 6-months-old infant with complaints of recurrent episodes of abdominal colic and pancreatitis, with S. Cholesterol 552 mg% and Triglycerides 6400 mg%, was treated with Ayurvedic medicines. After six months of medication, Serum Cholesterol levels were within normal limits, and within the three years of regular treatment, S. Triglycerides was under 2000 mg%. Recurrent episodes of acute abdominal colic and vomiting reduced significantly. The patient was treated for Kapha Pitta dushti in Rasa and Raktavah srotas (deformity of the Kapha Pitta humors in the tissue nourishment pathway of the first and the second tissue respectively). Laghoo Sootshekhar, Arogyavardhini, Tinospora cordifolia, Cyprus rotundus, Aegle marmelos, Berberis aristata, Vettiveria zizanioides, and Triphala were the medicines used frequently. The three years treatment was safe and effective. Cost-effectiveness was an added feature of this treatment. Clinical experience of this case shows that congenital hyperlipidemia can manage by Ayurvedic medicine.