09 Nov Hypertriglyceridemia Markedly Increases Risk of Acute Pancreatitis
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Borge G. Nordestgaard, MD, DMSc
Professor, University of Copenhagen
Chief Physician, Dept. Clinical Biochemistry, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital
Copenhagen University Hospital
Herlev, Denmark
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas with gallstones and high-alcohol consumption as leading risk factors, while mild-to-moderately increased plasma triglycerides hitherto has been overlooked. We surprisingly found that the risk of developing acute pancreatitis was increased already from triglycerides of 175 mg/dL (2 mmol/L) and above. When triglycerides were above 443mg/dL (5mmol/L) the risk was increased a massive 9-fold. Interestingly, this risk was higher than the corresponding 3.4-fold higher risk for myocardial infarction.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: As overweight and obesity are the main causes of mild-to-moderately increased plasma triglycerides, conditions that are on the rise in the entire world, episodes of abdominal pain in overweight and obese individuals may warrant measurements of plasma triglycerides to evaluate risk of both acute pancreatitis and myocardial infarction.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: Randomized controlled trials of triglyceride lowering in individuals with mild-to-moderately increased plasma triglycerides need to show a benefit of reduction of not only myocardial infarction but also acute pancreatitis.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Response: The scientific article is based on two population-based studies, the Copenhagen General Population Study and the Copenhagen City Heart study, including 115,000 individuals.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
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Last Updated on November 9, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD