[Rare cause for severe hypertriglyceridemia - case 9/2013].
METHODS
We report on a 48-year-old female patient with recently developed severe hypertriglyceridemia. Medical history was remarkable for breast cancer with breast-preserving surgery and chemoradiotherapy. The patient has been treated with 20 mg tamoxifen per day for three months.


METHODS
Laboratory results showed hypertriglyeridemia, hypercholesterolemia and lowered HDL-cholesterol.


METHODS
Findings were consistent with a drug-induced hypertriglyceridemia caused by anti-estrogenic therapy with tamoxifen. After consulting the patient's gynaecologist, we discontinued tamoxifen treatment. Thereupon, triglyceride levels fell consistently. There were no signs of pancreatitis, serum amylase and lipase were in the normal range.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with pre-diagnosed metabolic disorders, especially dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes, should undergo regular controls of serum triglycerides during tamoxifen treatment. Also, one should keep in mind that a subacute, severe rise in serum triglyceride levels may be caused, in rare cases, by tamoxifen treatment.
Klinik für Endokrinologie und Diabetologie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf.
Sabine
S
Kahl
Michael
M
Roden
Klaus
K
Mörike
Karsten
K
Müssig
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013629:Tamoxifen