title: Treatment of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis with insulin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertriglyceridaemia (HT)-induced pancreatitis rarely occurs unless triglyceride levels exceed 1000 mg/dl. Hypertriglyceridaemia over 1,000 mg/dl can provoke acute pancreatitis (AP) and its persistence can worsen the clinical outcome. In contrast, a rapid decrease in triglyceride level is beneficial. Insulin-stimulated lipoprotein lipase is known to decrease serum triglyceride levels. However, their efficacy in HT-induced AP is not well documented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present 12 cases of AP successfully treated by insulin administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and forty-three cases of AP were diagnosed at our clinic between 2005 and 2012. Twelve (3.5%) of these cases were HT-induced AP. Twelve patients who suffered HT-induced AP are reported. Initial blood triglyceride levels were above 1000 mg/dl. Besides the usual treatment of AP, insulin was administered intravenously in continuous infusion. The patients' medical records were retrospectively evaluated in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum triglyceride levels decreased to < 500 mg/dl within 2-3 days. No complications of treatment were seen and good clinical outcome was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results are compatible with the literature. Insulin may be used safely and effectively in HT-induced AP therapy. Administration of insulin is efficient when used to reduce triglyceride levels in patients with HT-induced AP.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Izmir Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Izmir Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nazif
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erkan
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Izmir Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Savas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yakan
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Izmir Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Izmir Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carti
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Izmir Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ucar
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Izmir Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oymaci
keywords: acute pancreatitis; hyperlipidaemia; hypertriglyceridemia; insulin