Plasmapheresis in the management of acute severe hyperlipidemic pancreatitis: Report of 5 cases

Background/Aim: Hyperlipidemic pancreatitis is an acute and potentially life-threatening complication of hypertriglyceridemia that can be provoked when triglyceride levels (TGL) exceed 11.3 mmol/l (1,000 mg/dl). Except for standard symptomatic treatment, plasmapheresis has been performed to rapidly...

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Published in:Pancreatology : official journal of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) ... [et al.] 2005-01, Vol.5 (2-3), p.201-204
Main Authors: Kyriakidis, A.V., Karydakis, P., Neofytou, N., Pyrgioti, M., Vasilakakis, D., Digenis, P., Antsaklis, G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
Adult
Humans
Hyperlipidemias - etiology
Hyperlipidemias - therapy
Hyperlipidemic pancreatitis
Male
Middle Aged
Original Paper
Pancreatitis - complications
Pancreatitis - therapy
Plasmapheresis
Plasmapheresis Treatment
Severity of Illness Index
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Background/Aim: Hyperlipidemic pancreatitis is an acute and potentially life-threatening complication of hypertriglyceridemia that can be provoked when triglyceride levels (TGL) exceed 11.3 mmol/l (1,000 mg/dl). Except for standard symptomatic treatment, plasmapheresis has been performed to rapidly reduce TGL and chylomicron levels in the blood. In 5 patients with hyperlipidemic pancreatitis, treatment with plasmapheresis was evaluated. Methods: Five male patients who suffered from acute pancreatitis with severe primary hyperlipidemia were studied. In addition to the standard treatment, they were treated with plasmapheresis. Results: Plasma exchange lowered the lipid level and TGLs in all cases. It also improved abdominal pain, the clinical state of the patients, and signs and symptoms of the disease. Complications of treatment were not encountered, none of the patients died and only 1 patient underwent surgery. Follow-up of the patients lasted 4–28 months, and recurrence of pancreatitis was not noted. Conclusion: Our study showed that plasmapheresis was successfully applied in patients with hyperlipidemic pancreatitis, especially to improve the acute phase of the disease.
ISSN:1424-3903
1424-3911
DOI:10.1159/000085272