Prevalence, morbidity and mortality of hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis in the General Hospital of Playa del Carmen, México. Analysis of five years

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is the underlying cause of pancreatitis in 7% of the general population and is the third cause after gallstones and alcohol. HTG may be associated with acute pancreatitis as an epiphenomenon or as a precipitant thereof. Generally, more than 75% of pancreatitis induced by hypertriglyceridemia is due to secondary causes and although these are not sufficient to elevate triglycerides to cause pancreatitis, a preexisting defect is required to obtain a TG>1000 mg/dL to induce acute pancreatitis. Material and Method: To identify the prevalence morbidity and mortality of acute pancreatitis due to hypertriglyceridemia, a retrospective and cross-sectional observational clinical study was performed for a period of five years. Results: During the study period, 100 cases of acute pancreatitis of various etiologies were collected, 29 (29%) of which corresponded to acute pancreatitis of hypertriglyceridemic origin; history of risk: type 1 Diabetes mellitus one case (3.4%); Type 2 Diabetes mellitus 27 cases (24%); history of alcoholism nine cases (31%); positive smoking 4 cases (13.8%); hypertriglyceridemia 27 cases (94%); obesity 17 cases (59%); lipemic serum 19 cases (65.5%), and In-hospital stays average six days. Mortality in one case. Discussion: In the Mexican national survey of ENASUT 2012, it was found by age group that hypercholesterolemia is highest in the age groups of 50-69 years of age. (Table 1) The frequency of hyperlipidemia in patients with pancreatitis ranges from 12 to 38%, and of hypertriglyceridemia, between 4 and 53%; what is important is to define whether its presence is primary or causal, or secondary or consequence of other clinical conditions such as Diabetes mellitus, alcohol abuse, pregnancy or use of medications. The triglycerides were obtained on routine laboratory tests in our hospital and their values were steadily elevated and the hipertrigliceridemic acute pancreatitis is the principal cause instead the alcoholic acute pancreatitis. Keywords: Pancreatitis acute;Hypertriglyceridemic; Prevalence; Morbidity; Mortality