title: Omega-3 fatty acids for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia during the second trimester.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serum triacylglycerol (TG) levels increase during pregnancy. High serum TG levels may elicit acute pancreatitis; therefore, it is important that pregnant women are managed well to abrogate the rapid rise of TG levels in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to report on the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid administration on pregnant women with hypertriacylglycerolemia in the second trimester.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report on four patients who presented to Kumamoto University Hospital from January 2005 to March 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All four patients delivered neonates at term without complicating acute pancreatitis. Additionally, in three cases of multipara, the maximum serum TG levels were decreased to 10% to 49% of their preceding pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral eicosapentaenoic acid administration might be a safe and useful treatment for hypertriacylglycerolemia during pregnancy and may prevent the development of acute pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan. Electronic address: amethyst_j_0229@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohba
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyomi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takaishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidetaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katabuchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second
chemical_list: D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: EPA; Hypertriacylglycerolemia; Pancreatitis; Pregnancy; Second trimester