[Treatment of hypertriglyceridemia: plasma exchange]

Abstract

Severe hypertriglyceridemia ( >1,000 -2,000 mg/dL) is known to cause acute pancreatitis (AP). If standard treatment regimen including absolute diet restriction regarding fats, use of lipid -lowering agents and combination of low molecular weight heparin with insulin is not effective, plasma exchange (PE) has emerged as an effective modality in rapidly lowering serum triglyceride levels and helping to treat and prevent hypertriglyceridemia-induced AEP. It has been shown to reduce triglyceride levels by an average of 61% after 1 session and provide rapid resolution of AP symptoms. However, the timing of PE in managing hypertriglyceridemia remains unevaluated. Randomized controlled trials on this specific topic are needed to be performed in the future.