Treatments of HTGP

 Q: Heparin can be used as a treatment in acute pancreatitis secondary to severe hypertriglyceridemia?

A) True

B) False

Answer: A

Although rarely used and not established as a standard of care (yet) for severe hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis (HTGP), heparin has an ability to acutely lower the triglyceride. Heparin decreases the triglycerides by stimulating lipoprotein lipase activity, which degrades triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol. 

Modalities that have been used as a standard of treatment in HTGP are intravenous insulin infusion and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE).

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References:

1. Alagözlü H, Cindoruk M, Karakan T, Unal S. Heparin and insulin in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia-induced severe acute pancreatitis. Dig Dis Sci 2006; 51:931. 

2. Jain D, Zimmerschied J. Heparin and insulin for hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis: case report. ScientificWorldJournal 2009; 9:1230. 

3.. Henzen C, Röck M, Schnieper C, Heer K. [Heparin and insulin in the treatment of acute hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis]. Schweiz Med Wochenschr 1999; 129:1242. 

4. Berger Z, Quera R, Poniachik J, et al. [heparin and insulin treatment of acute pancreatitis caused by hypertriglyceridemia. Experience of 5 cases]. Rev Med Chil 2001; 129:1373.