A case of severe neuropathy associated with hypertriglyceridemia. 2008

Runhua Hou, and Anne Carol Goldberg, and Garry Stuart Tobin
Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. runhua.hou@gmail.com

OBJECTIVE To describe a case of severe neuropathy associated with hypertriglyceridemia. METHODS We describe the clinical and laboratory findings of the study patient and review the relevant literature. RESULTS A 45-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with recurrent abdominal pain and severe peripheral neuropathy. Her laboratory data revealed elevated lipase and a very high triglyceride concentration (>10,000 mg/dL), consistent with a diagnosis of recurrent hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis. Workup for peripheral neuropathy showed normal concentrations of thyrotropin, fasting blood glucose, vitamin B(12), and creatinine, as well as a normal hemoglobin A(1c) level, serum protein electrophoresis, and urine protein electrophoresis. Rapid plasma reagin antibodies, antinuclear antibodies, and lyme antibodies were not detected. In the absence of other identifiable causes, hypertriglyceridemia was deemed the likely etiology of severe neuropathy in this patient. CONCLUSIONS Peripheral nerve conduction abnormalities can be identified in patients with mild hypertriglyceridemia in the absence of symptoms. Early recognition and aggressive management of hypertriglyceridemia may prevent the complications of severe peripheral neuropathy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010523 Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Diseases of the peripheral nerves external to the brain and spinal cord, which includes diseases of the nerve roots, ganglia, plexi, autonomic nerves, sensory nerves, and motor nerves. Peripheral Nerve Diseases,Peripheral Neuropathies,PNS (Peripheral Nervous System) Diseases,PNS Diseases,Peripheral Nervous System Disease,Peripheral Nervous System Disorders,Nerve Disease, Peripheral,Nerve Diseases, Peripheral,Neuropathy, Peripheral,PNS Disease,Peripheral Nerve Disease,Peripheral Neuropathy
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015228 Hypertriglyceridemia A condition of elevated levels of TRIGLYCERIDES in the blood. Hypertriglyceridemias

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