Key result
Plasmapheresis rapidly cuts triglycerides ~77% in severe hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis.
Why the study?
Severe hypertriglyceridemia is a rare and understudied condition in children and adolescents with no specific treatment guidelines available.
Does plasmapheresis improve severe hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis in an adolescent?
Case Report (n=1)
Does plasmapheresis improve severe hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis in an adolescent?
Plasmapheresis may be a viable, less conventional treatment modality for severe hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis in adolescents.
Should not yet change practice in adolescent pancreatitis; leaves open potential role of plasmapheresis pending controlled data.
Severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG) is defined as plasma triglycerides >1000 mg/dl. It is a rare and understudied condition in children and adolescents. SHTG in pediatric patients may occur as a result of certain genetic disorders of enzymes involved in triglyceride synthesis and metabolism, or it may be seen secondary to uncontrolled diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, or certain medications. SHTG can cause recurrent abdominal pain and acute pancreatitis. Rapid lowering of triglycerides is needed in SHTG to prevent these complications. However, there are no specific guidelines for the treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia in children and adolescents. Here we report a case of a 16-year-old boy, who was diagnosed with metabolic syndrome three years back. He had a family history of diabetes type 2 and dyslipidemia. In the current case presentation, the patient presented with SHTG-induced acute pancreatitis, who was successfully treated using plasmapheresis. To our knowledge, no such case has ever been reported in Pakistan. Our case findings highlight the use of a less conventional method for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia in children.
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Afzal et al. (2021) conducted a case report in Severe hypertriglyceridemia, acute pancreatitis, diabetic ketoacidosis (n=1). Therapeutic plasmapheresis was evaluated on Triglyceride levels. Two sessions of therapeutic plasmapheresis rapidly reduced triglyceride levels from 2100 mg/dl to 487 mg/dl and resolved symptoms in an adolescent with severe hypertriglyceridemia and acute pancreatitis.
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