Severe acute pancreatitis induced by hypertriglyceridemia: Case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v15i5.51117Keywords:
Pancreatic necrosis, Lipids, Fatty acids.Abstract
The pancreas is one of the digestive system organs most susceptible to inflammatory pathologies caused by lifestyle and diet in Western society, marked by high consumption of alcohol and ultra-processed foods rich in lipids. In this context, acute pancreatitis, the main pathological manifestation involving the pancreas, stands out in the medical field, especially in the care of critically ill patients. The pathophysiological mechanism of this condition is mainly caused by gallstones and alcohol consumption, although other etiologies are also recognized, such as hypertriglyceridemia, post-procedure conditions like post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (PRC), genetic factors, certain medications, and infections. Although less prevalent, hypertriglyceridemia is a recognized cause of acute pancreatitis. Triglycerides, in isolation, do not have a direct toxic effect. However, during acute pancreatitis, their hydrolysis mediated by pancreatic lipases leads to the release of free fatty acids, which have significant lipotoxic potential. The severity of acute pancreatitis in patients with hypertriglyceridemia is associated not only with the inflammatory response inherent in the pancreatic process, but also with the cellular damage induced by fatty acids resulting from triglyceride degradation. This study aims to highlight, through an individual case report, hypertriglyceridemia as a cause of acute pancreatitis, because although it is not the most common cause, it is an important etiology, especially elevated levels in patients with risk factors for developing acquired disorders of lipoprotein metabolism such as obesity and diabetes mellitus.
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