Extremely high triglycerides can lead to a high risk of acute pancreatitis1,2

People with consistent fasting triglycerides >10 mmol/L (880 mg/dL) are in an established acute pancreatitis-risk danger zone1

Physical and emotional toll of acute pancreatitis

People with Familial Chylomicronaemia Syndrome (FCS) live in fear of painful, life-threatening acute pancreatitis attacks and emergency hospitalisations.3,4 One of the most common emotional symptoms of FCS is constant uncertainty about the possibility of acute pancreatitis or pain4

Even with treatment, extremely
high triglycerides take an emotional and social toll4

In a survey of 166 people with FCS, the most common emotional symptoms were:4

Icon of a clock with urgency.

Uncertainty about acute pancreatitis or pain

Icon of an anxious looking face.

Anxiety, fear, or worry about health

Icon of a fork and knife.

Uncertainty about what or how to eat

Icon of helpless looking face.

Feeling out of control because of their FCS

Extremely high triglycerides, such as those seen in FCS, can lead to acute pancreatitis risk2,3

Acute pancreatitis caused by extremely high triglycerides is often more severe and more fatal than acute pancreatitis caused by other factors5

Acute Pancreatitis Risk11

>11.3

~17x

>10

~14x

People with triglycerides >10 mmol/L (880 mg/dL) are in an established acute pancreatitis risk danger zone1

>5.7–≤10

~3x

≥2.3–≤5.7

~1.5x

<2.3

Triglycerides(mmol/L)

Recurring episodes of acute pancreatitis are highly burdensome for people and healthcare systems:2,6,7

  • Multiple episodes of acute pancreatitis can damage the pancreas, leading to chronic pancreatitis and diabetes2

Identifying those at risk of acute pancreatitis caused by high triglycerides is critical, because even one acute pancreatitis event dramatically increases the chance of a future one2

Just one meal can spike acute pancreatitis risk

Accumulation of chylomicrons (chylomicronaemia) from dietary fat can dramatically spike acute pancreatitis risk after just one meal8

Illustration of additional dietary chylomicrons that cannot be cleared by the body due to high triglyceride levels.

Triglycerides clearance can be saturated, and the body may be unable to clear additional dietary chylomicrons9

Illustration of how high levels of chylomicrons are thought to restrict blood flow and induce inflammation in blood vessels.

High levels of chylomicrons (chylomicronaemia) are thought to restrict blood flow and induce inflammation9,10

Illustration of how the pancreas may be vulnerable to ischaemic damage caused by high levels of chylomicrons.

The pancreas may be particularly vulnerable to ischaemic damage caused by high levels of chylomicrons9,10

Scroll to Explore
Icon of yes or no option.

Among people with triglycerides >11.3 mmol/L (1000 mg/dL), as seen in FCS, what proportion have experienced an acute pancreatitis event?*4,11

Thank you for your response.

Back

*Data from hypertriglyceridaemia cohort studies11

Guidelines support the ≤10 mmol/L (880 mg/dL) target1

The primary goal of FCS treatment is lowering triglyceride levels to below the threshold for acute pancreatitis risk.1,6 The European Society of Cardiology and European Atherosclerosis Society guidelines establish that the risk of pancreatitis is clinically significant if triglycerides are >10 mmol/L (880 mg/dL)1

Approaches conventionally used to lower triglycerides, such as statins, fibrates, and omega-3 fatty acids have not been shown to lower the risk of acute pancreatitis in people with extremely high triglycerides6

The ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias

View Guidelines

RECOGNISE YOUR ROLE IN LOWERING THE RISK OF ACUTE PANCREATITIS

Early diagnosis and referral can make a difference for people with FCS

Discover more

Abbreviations

AP, acute pancreatitis; EAS, European Atherosclerosis Society; ESC, European Society of Cardiology; FCS, Familial Chylomicronaemia Syndrome; TG, triglyceride.

Show References Expand Collapse

  1. Mach F, Baigent C, et al. Eur Heart J. 2020;41(1):111–88.
  2. Sanchez RJ, Ge W, et al. Lipids Health Dis. 2021;20(1):72.
  3. Gaudet D, Stevenson M, et al. Lipids Health Dis. 2020;19(1):120.
  4. Davidson M, Stevenson M, et al. J Clin Lipidol. 2018;12(4):898–907.
  5. Garg R, Rustagi T, et al. Biomed Res Int. 2018;2018:4721357.
  6. Shamsudeen I, Hegele RA, et al. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2022;15(4):395–405.
  7. Guda NM, Trikudanathan G, et al. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018;3(10):720–8.
  8. Paragh G, Németh Á, et al. Lipids Health Dis. 2022;21:21.
  9. Goldberg RB, Chait A, et al. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020;11:593931.
  10. de Pretis N, Amodio A, et al. United European Gastroenterol J. 2018;6(10):649–55.
  11. Hernandez P, Passi N, et al. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2021;23(11):65.

The site you are about to enter is intended for healthcare professionals only

I am a healthcare professional

Sign up for updates and more information

Sign Up