Severe gestationnal hypertrygliceridemia

Abstract

Background: Severe hypertriglyceridemia is a rare condition in pregnancy and usually occurs in the third trimester. It is often multifactorial, threatens maternal and fetal prognosis and expose the mother to its major complication: acute pancreatitis. It justifies urgent care based primarily on dietary measures and fetal extraction. Aim of the study: We report a case of severe, non-genetic, non-familial, pregnancy-induced hypertriglyceridemia. Case report: A 34-year-old woman, with no particular medical history, presented to the hospital in her third pregnancy, for suspected preeclampsia in a preterm labor context. It was about a monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy at 30 weeks of amenorrhea, irregularly followed but all her antenatal screening tests were normal. A full blood count taken was noted to be grossly lipemic. A fasting blood specimen showed elevated cholesterol and triglyceride. Serum analysis revealed normal glucose, amylase, lipase, and thyroid stimulating hormone. The hyperlipidemia was controlled by a low-fat diet. The plasma lipid levels quickly decreased. The patient delivered by c-section at 31 WA. During postpartum, the plasma lipid levels regressed to normal after one month. Conclusions: The severe HTG during pregnancy is a rare condition that can be detected with a blood sample when its appearance is milky. Dietary remains the essential therapeutic measure.