title: Management of familial hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis during pregnancy with therapeutic plasma exchange: a case report and review of literature.
abstract: Familial severe hypertriglyceridemia (levels greater than 1000 mg/dL) is a known cause of acute pancreatitis. Pregnancy can dysregulate controlled lipid levels in women with familial hypertriglyceridemia and lead to acute pancreatitis and significant morbidity in both mother and fetus. We report a case of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis during pregnancy that was successfully treated using therapeutic plasma exchange, resulting in delivery of a healthy preterm infant. Therapeutic plasma exchange is an effective approach to treat gestational hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis. Other treatment options include combined heparin and insulin infusion. Moreover, particular caution should be applied when interpreting the results of prothrombin time in the setting of severe hypertriglyceridemia as false elevation with testing methods could happen.
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH; 2Division of Internal Medicine; and 3Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Makassed Islamic Hospital, East Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Fadi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Safi
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toumeh
authors.forename: Mahmoud A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abuissa Qadan
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karaz
authors.forename: Bassam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: AlAkdar
authors.forename: Ragheb
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Assaly
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006953:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IV / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides