August 2, 2023Open Access
View Full PaperHypertriglyceridemia-Associated Pancreatitis: New Concepts and Potential Mechanisms
Structured PICO
Does plasma triglyceride-lowering therapy prevent acute pancreatitis in individuals with mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia?
P
Population
Individuals with mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia
I
Intervention
Plasma triglyceride-lowering therapy targeting the pathway for lipoprotein lipase (blocking Angiopoietin-like 3 and apolipoproteinC-III)
O
Outcome
Acute pancreatitis
Mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia is causally linked to acute pancreatitis, suggesting an unmet need that could potentially be addressed by novel triglyceride-lowering therapies.
Abstract
Recent observational and genetic studies indicate that mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia is causally related to increased risk of acute pancreatitis, most likely as a marker of future severe hypertriglyceridemia. Current guidelines do not mention individuals with mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia, even though newer evidence suggests an unmet medical need. Treatment could include plasma triglyceride-lowering therapy targeting the pathway for lipoprotein lipase as the main triglyceride degrading enzyme in plasma. Angiopoietin-like 3 and apolipoproteinC-III are inhibitors of lipoprotein lipase, and blocking of these 2 inhibitors is showing promising results in relation to marked triglyceride-lowering and could perhaps be used to prevent acute pancreatitis in the future.