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Hypertriglyceridemia

S. Lindsey Clarke, MD FAAFP and Katherine G. W. Johnson, MD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a common form of dyslipidemia characterized by an excess fasting plasma concentration of triglycerides (TGs).

    • TGs are fatty molecules that occur naturall...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Usually asymptomatic

  • Patients with chylomicronemia syndrome can have memory loss, headache, vertigo, dyspnea, and paresthesias.

  • Pancreatitis: epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting

  • Assess...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Cardiovascular risk reduction through LDL lowering should be prioritized over TG lowering unless patient is at risk for pancreatitis due to severe HTG (TG ≥500 mg/dL) (1)[C]...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

1-3 months after initiation or modification of therapy (repeat fasting lipid profile) 

Patient Monitoring

  • Fasting lipid profile q 6–12 months

  • Maintain TG <500 to ...

REFERENCES

1
Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al. 2018 AHA/ACC guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force o...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Oh RC, Trivette ET, Westerfield KL. Management of hypertriglyceridemia: common questions and answers. Am Fam Physician. 2020;102:347-354.

  • Sim...

SEE ALSO

  • Hypercholesterolemia; Pancreatitis, Acute

  • Algorithm: Hypertriglyceridemia

CODES

ICD10

E78.1 Pure hyperglyceridemia 

SNOMED

  • 302870006 Hypertriglyceridemia (disorder)

  • 238083002 Primary hypertriglyceridemia (disorder)

  • 238087001 secondary hypertriglyceridemia (disorder)

  • 267433009 Pur...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • HTG is likely a risk factor for atherosclerosis at levels ≥175 mg/dL and for acute pancreatitis at levels ≥500 to 1,000 mg/dL.

  • Therapeutic lifestyle interventions (diet and exercise) ar...

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