Hypertriglyceridemia increases the risk for acute pancreatitis and is a marker of increased risk for stroke, myocardial infarction, diabetes, and hypertension.1-6

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG):

  • Affects tens of millions of people4
  • Can occur as part of the metabolic syndrome and complicate the management of obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance4
  • Has been linked with an increase in the risk of diabetes diagnosis and an increase in the risk of death from diabetes6
  • Is a risk factor for development of fatty liver disease7

Research advances are revealing how genetics and lifestyle affect triglyceride (TG) metabolism and may provide better tools for reducing the complications of HTG.1

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAUSES OF HTG
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Acute
Pancreatitis

TG levels above 10 mmol/L (880 mg/dL) confer a high risk for acute pancreatitis,1 though the risk begins to increase at even lower TG levels.10

 


Learn more about acute pancreatitis
and other symptoms of HTG.

Atherosclerotic
Cardiovascular Disease

After decades of controversy, recent epidemiologic and genetic studies have brought consensus that elevated plasma levels of triglyceride (TG; >1.7 mmol/L, >150 mg/dL), triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs), and TRL remnants are causally related to increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), including in those with TG levels >5.7 mmol/L (>500 mg/dL).1,4,5,9

 

Learn more about ASCVD and
other symptoms of HTG.

Causes of HTG

HTG can arise from:4

  • Single genetic bi-allelic mutations
  • The combined effects of several small-effect heterozygous mutations
  • Lifestyle factors and other medical conditions
Learn more about the
causes of HTG.

Management of HTG

The complex etiology of HTG can make management very challenging, as each person responds differently to interventions intended to lower plasma HTG levels.1,4

Despite these challenges, major professional societies recommend lowering plasma TG levels in people with HTG to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and acute pancreatitis.2,11,31

Learn more about different
strategies for management of HTG.

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    SHOW REFERENCES

    1. Ginsberg HN, Packard CJ, Chapman MJ, et al. Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and their remnants: metabolic insights, role in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and emerging therapeutic strategies-a consensus statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society. Eur Heart J. 2021;42(47):4791-4806.

    2. Virani SS, Morris PB, Agarwala A, et al. 2021 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on the Management of ASCVD Risk Reduction in Patients With Persistent Hypertriglyceridemia: A Report of the American College of Cardiology Solution Set Oversight Committee. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021.

    3. Nordestgaard BG, Varbo A. Triglycerides and cardiovascular disease. Lancet. 2014;384(9943):626-635.

    4. Laufs U, Parhofer KG, Ginsberg HN, et al. Clinical review on triglycerides. Eur Heart J. 2020;41(1):99-109c.

    5. Packard CJ. Remnants, LDL, and the Quantification of Lipoprotein-Associated Risk in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2022;24(1534-6242 (Electronic)):133-142.

    6. Wang Y. Higher fasting triglyceride predicts higher risks of diabetes mortality in US adults. Lipids Health Dis. 2021;20(1):181.

    7. Paquette M, Bernard S. The Evolving Story of Multifactorial Chylomicronemia Syndrome. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022;9:886266.

    8. Christian JB, Bourgeois N, Snipes R, et al. Prevalence of severe (500 to 2,000 mg/dl) hypertriglyceridemia in United States adults. Am J Cardiol. 2011;107(6):891-897.

    9. Sandesara PB, Virani SS, Fazio S, et al. The Forgotten Lipids: Triglycerides, Remnant Cholesterol, and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Endocr Rev. 2019;40(2):537-557.

    10. Pedersen SB, Langsted A, Nordestgaard BG. Nonfasting Mild-to-Moderate Hypertriglyceridemia and Risk of Acute Pancreatitis. JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176(12):1834-1842.

    11. Mach F, Baigent C, Catapano AL, et al. 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias: lipid modification to reduce cardiovascular risk. Eur Heart J. 2020;41(1):111-188.

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    23. Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al. 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73(24):e285-e350.

    24. Belhassen M, Van Ganse E, Nolin M, et al. 10-Year Comparative Follow-up of Familial versus Multifactorial Chylomicronemia Syndromes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021;106(3):e1332-e1342.

    25. Nawaz H, Koutroumpakis E, Easler J, et al. Elevated serum triglycerides are independently associated with persistent organ failure in acute pancreatitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2015;110(10):1497-1503.

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