Clinical diagnosis of familial hypertriglyceridemia-induced recurrent acute pancreatitis at rural outreach outpatient department: a case report

Acute pancreatitis is a common condition with significant morbidity and mortality. After gallstones and alcohol, hypertriglyceridemia is another important cause of recurrent acute pancreatitis. Primary or genetic hypertriglyceridemia may lead to pancreatitis in patients who have a normal BMI and have no history of diabetes mellitus. Though the diagnosis of primary hypertriglyceridemia is primarily based on genetic studies, clinically it can be suspected in patients having peculiar serum appearance. We report a case of familial hypertriglyceridemia causing recurrent acute pancreatitis, which was diagnosed with observation of peculiar serum sample of the patient. Attentive clinical evaluation may guide the treating physician toward the etiological factor and treatment accordingly.