title: Therapeutic plasma exchange for hypertriglyceridemia induced pancreatitis: A rapid and practical approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acute hypertriglyceridemia induced pancreatitis (HTP) presents with a more severe clinical course compared to other etiologies of pancreatitis. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a potential treatment option for lowering plasma triglycerides and possibly decreasing morbidity and mortality. However, clinical data regarding its effectiveness are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively examined the clinical data and outcomes of 13 consecutive episodes of HTP in which TPE was employed to reduce plasma triglycerides during a 15-month period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TPE was initiated at a median of 19 hours from the time of presentation. We performed 1.2-1.5 volume TPEs with 5% albumin as the replacement fluid. After only one TPE procedure, the mean plasma triglycerides values decreased from 2993 mg/dl to 487 mg/dl with a reduction of 84%. All 13 patients survived with a mean length of hospital stay of 9.5 days. There were no complications related to TPE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One TPE procedure is an effective method for reducing plasma triglycerides and possibly decreases the length of hospital stay in patients admitted with HTP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA.
authors.forename: Chakri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gavva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA.
authors.forename: Ravindra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sarode
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9030, USA.
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA. Electronic address: James.Burner@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000379:methods*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: Hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis; Plasma exchange; Triglycerides