Triad of Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Hypertriglyceridemia, and Acute Pancreatitis: Severity of Acute Pancreatitis May Correlate with the Level of Hypertriglyceridemia.

Publication/Presentation Date

6-18-2019

Abstract

A 50-year-old African-American male with no known previous medical comorbidities presented to the emergency room with complaints of three days of worsening epigastric pain associated with nausea and vomiting. Laboratory parameters on admission revealed high lipase: 1796 U/L (normal range 0-160 U/L), high blood glucose level: 300 mg/dl, anion gap metabolic acidosis, ketonuria, significant hyperlipidemia (triglyceride: 1226 mg/dl (normal range/dl), and LDL cholesterol: 307 mg/dl (normal range/dl)). Treatment with intravascular volume and electrolytes replacement as well as administration of intravenous insulin successfully resolved diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) with a drop in triglyceride (TG) level from 1226 mg/dl to 193 mg/dl. Radiologic imaging studies by ultrasonography (USG) and CT of the abdomen showed features suggestive of interstitial pancreatitis. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1) was 10.7% suggesting uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. Here, we explain the possible pathophysiology and management of this uncommon triad-DKA, hypertriglyceridemia, and acute pancreatitis-followed by discussion and literature review, which highlight the diagnostic challenge and possible relation of the severity of pancreatitis with the degree of hypertriglyceridemia.

Volume

11

Issue

6

First Page

4930

Last Page

4930

ISSN

2168-8184

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

31431836

Department(s)

Department of Medicine

Document Type

Article

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