title: Marked hypertriglyceridemia in a woman receiving metoprolol succinate.
abstract: β-blockers are commonly used therapies after acute myocardial infarction and in the management of congestive heart failure and hypertension. We report a case of a middle-aged woman with a history of mild hypertension who was placed on metoprolol succinate. Before initiation of the β-blocker, her triglyceride level was in the borderline-high range (150-199 mg/dL). On treatment, her triglyceride levels exceeded 1000 mg/dL. She developed fatigue and mild abdominal discomfort but without biochemical evidence of pancreatitis. After discontinuation of metoprolol succinate, her triglyceride levels receded. This case illustrates an uncommon side effect with a very commonly used therapy in clinical practice. Clinicians should closely evaluate medications and/or other therapies in patients presenting with new-onset hypertriglyceridemia especially when levels are sufficiently elevated to pose increased risk of pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Yeunjung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: mmiller@medicine.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D028761:Withholding Treatment
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014280:Triglycerides; D008790:Metoprolol
keywords: Beta-blockers; Hypertriglyceridemia; Metoprolol succinate; Triglycerides