Hypertriglyceridaemia and diabetes mellitus: cause or effect?
Two patients with hypertriglyceridaemia which was diagnosed several years before the onset of diabetes are described. In the first case a 54-year-old man presented with hypertriglyceridaemia and normal glucose tolerance. After 4 years he developed severe hypertriglyceridaemia (22 mmol/l) which was first ascribed to poor compliance but soon afterwards diabetes was diagnosed and good blood glucose control minimized the hypertriglyceridaemia. The second patient, a female, aged 27 years, with the polycystic ovarian syndrome, presented with eruptive xanthoma after several years of mild hyperlipidaemia. There was severe hyperlipidaemia (triglyceride 140 mmol/l, cholesterol 42 mmol/l) which required urgent plasmapheresis. Diabetes was diagnosed and treated with insulin at this time but the patient was taking the oral contraceptive pill and also had a deficiency of apolipoprotein CII.
Thomas
D J
DJ
Department of Diabetes, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
Stocks
J
J
Galton
D J
DJ
Besser
G M
GM
D000328:Adult; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D014280:Triglycerides