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. 2022 Apr 12:9:870067.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.870067. eCollection 2022.

Comparable Triglyceride Reduction With Plasma Exchange and Insulin in Acute Pancreatitis - A Randomized Trial

Jakob Gubensek  1   2 , Milena Andonova  1   2 , Alexander Jerman  1 , Vanja Persic  1   2 , Barbara Vajdic-Trampuz  1   2 , Ana Zupunski-Cede  1   2 , Nejc Sever  3 , Samo Plut  2   3
Affiliations

Comparable Triglyceride Reduction With Plasma Exchange and Insulin in Acute Pancreatitis - A Randomized Trial

Jakob Gubensek et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Background and aims: Both insulin and plasma exchange (PE) are used in hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP). Our aim was to compare the efficacy of both treatments.

Methods: A randomized, parallel group study performed in a tertiary hospital in 22 HTG-AP patients with non-severe prognosis and triglycerides between 15 and 40 mmol/L. Patients were randomized to daily PE or insulin infusion until triglycerides were <10 mmol/L. Primary outcome was % reduction in triglycerides within 24 h. Secondary outcomes were days needed to lower triglycerides <10 mmol/L, highest CRP and percentage of patients with a severe course of pancreatitis.

Results: There was a trend toward a greater decrease in triglycerides within the first 24 h in the PE group (67 ± 17% vs. 53 ± 17%, p = 0.07), but the absolute difference was modest [mean difference of 6 mmol/L (14% of initial value)]. Triglycerides fell below 10 mmol/L in a median (IQR) of 1 (1-2) and 2 (1-2) days, respectively (p = 0.25). Secondary outcomes related to disease severity were also comparable: highest CRP 229 vs. 211 mg/L (p = 0.69) and severe course of pancreatitis in 2/11 cases in both groups (p = 1.0). Regarding treatment complications, there was one mild hypoglycemia and one allergic reaction during PE. Survival was 100% in both groups.

Conclusion: There was no significant difference, but only a trend toward a greater decrease in triglycerides with PE, and the clinical course was also comparable. These results do not support universal use of PE in patients with HTG-AP.

Clinical trial registration: [ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT02622854].

Keywords: acute hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis; apheresis – therapeutic; conservative treatment; free fatty acids; hypertriglyceridemia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
A CONSORT randomized trial flow diagram.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Individual patients triglycerides profiles for plasma exchange panel (A) and insulin panel (B) groups. To convert TG units to mg/dL, multiply by 88.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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