Asymptomatic massive hypertriglyceridemia in an octogenarian.
OBJECTIVE
To report the case of an 85-year-old man with asymptomatic massive hypertriglyceridemia (MHTG).


METHODS
Our case was a non-smoker, healthy 85-year-old Caucasian male, with no excessive alcohol intake and no evidence of an excessive sedentary lifestyle, body mass index = 23.2 kg/m(2), BP = 125/85 mm Hg and plasma triglyceride (TG) >1,000 mg/dl. The MHTG was an incidental finding at the age of 70. He had no cardiovascular disease, xanthomas, xanthelasmas or keratic precipitate. During the last 15 years, his average TG plasma levels showed a significant variability independent of specific diet treatment and fibrate therapy. Liver ultrasound examination excluded hepatomegaly and fatty degeneration. Carotid artery ultrasound showed only intimal thickening in both carotid bifurcations.


CONCLUSIONS
In this patient, MHTG had been silent for many years, with no evidence of coronary heart disease and liver fatty degeneration, both typical complications present in MHTG subjects with low high-density lipoprotein. Hence, this case must be considered as a rarity.
Cicero
Arrigo F G
AF
Atherosclerosis and Metabolism Diseases Study Centre GC Descovich, Clinical Medicine and Applied Biotechnology Department D Campanacci, University of Bologna, Italy. afgcicero@tiscali.it
Panourgia
Maria Panagiota
MP
Nascetti
Simona
S
Sangiorgi
Zina
Z
Gaddi
Antonio
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006953:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IV / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index