Hypertriglyceridemia: Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

The following symptoms and complaints may indicate hypertriglyceridemia:

• Eruptive xanthomas (small yellowish-white skin lesions).
• Recurrent pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) in childhood* .
• Acute pancreatitis (when triglyceride levels are > 1,000 mg/dl; upper abdominal symptoms with extreme pain).
• Hepatospenomegaly/enlargement of liver and spleen (anemia/anemia, thrombocytopenia/lack of platelets)* .
• Early atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries).
• Microcirculatory disorders (at triglyceride levels of > 1,000 mg/dl by the occurring hyperviscosity of the blood (chylomicronemia syndrome), which may result in the following serious sequelae:
  • Angina pectoris (“chest tightness”; sudden pain in the region of the heart).
  • Acute pancreatitis
  • Cerebral inferior perfusion (inferior blood flow)

* In familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency (type I hyperlipoproteinemia) and apo-protein CII deficiency.

Notice. During pregnancy, elevation of the VLDL fraction (due to increased serum estrogen levels) may worsen the above symptoms.