Hypertriglyceridemia in

the Intensive Care Unit

Luke Dotson, PharmD
January 16th, 2024
Objectives
• Review the structure, synthesis pathway, and function of
triglycerides in the human body.
• Understand the causes, complications, and treatment
options for hypertriglyceridemia.
• Interpret the assigned clinical trial and determine the
applicability of the results.
• Develop an action plan for addressing
hypertriglyceridemia in the intensive care unit.
What are triglycerides?
About High Cholesterol. www.myhealthmylife.com.my.
https://www.myhealthmylife.com.my/en-MY/Cardiovascular/High
-Cholesterol/About-High-Cholesterol

‌
 Triglyceride Structure

Triglycerides. Chemistry LibreTexts. Published June 27, 2016.

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Intro
ductory_Chemistry_%28CK-12%29/26%3A_Biochemistry/
26.08%3A_Triglycerides

‌
How are triglycerides
synthesized?
 Synthesis Pathway

Triacylglycerol Metabolism - An Overview. Chemistry LibreTexts. Published August 5, 2017.

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Map
%3A_Fundamentals_of_General_Organic_and_Biological_Chemistry_%28McMurry_et_al.
%29/24%3A_Lipid_Metabolism/24.03%3A_Triacylglycerol_Metabolism_-_An_Overview

‌
 What Causes
Hypertriglyceridemia?
How to Lower High Triglycerides Naturally. Dr. Axe. Accessed January
16, 2024. https://draxe.com/health/high-triglycerides/

‌
 Medication-Induced Dyslipidemia

Herink M, Ito MK. Medication Induced Changes in Lipid and

Lipoproteins. Nih.gov. Published May 10, 2018.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK326739/

‌
Other Medications:
 Other Medications

• Propofol
• Clevidipine
• Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
• Valproic acid
• Olanzapine
• Mirtazapine

Herink M, Ito MK. Medication Induced Changes in Lipid and

Lipoproteins. Nih.gov. Published May 10, 2018.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK326739/
What are Complications
of Hypertriglyceridemia?
Duggal DD. Triglycerides Normal Range, Risk of High Levels, Causes,
& Prevention. Breathe Well-Being. Published April 5, 2022.
https://www.breathewellbeing.in/blog/triglycerides-normal-range-
risk-of-high-levels-causes-prevention/
 How Should
Hypertriglyceridemia be
Treated?
Hypertriglyceridemia Treatment

UpToDate. www.uptodate.com. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hypertriglyceridemia-in-adults-

management/print
Study Design
Methods
Heparin
Insulin
Fenofibrate
Therapeutic Plasma
Exchange
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange

Farkas J. PulmCrit- Hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis: Can we defuse the

bomb? EMCrit Project. Published March 13, 2017. Accessed January 16,
2024. https://emcrit.org/pulmcrit/hypertriglyceridemic-pancreatitis/

‌
Subjects
Endpoints
Statistical Analysis
Results
Strengths
Limitations
Clinical Relevance and
Applicability
What would YOU do?
 References
1. Ozcelik S, Baş S, Ozcelik M, Sarıaydın M, Celik M, Gözü H. Efficacy of insulin, heparin, and fenofibrate combination treatment
in severe hypertriglyceridemia: double center experience. Acta Endocrinol (Buchar). 2019;15(4):460-465.
doi:10.4183/aeb.2019.460
2. About High Cholesterol. www.myhealthmylife.com.my. https://www.myhealthmylife.com.my/en-MY/Cardiovascular/High-
Cholesterol/About-High-Cholesterol
3. 26.8: Triglycerides. Chemistry LibreTexts. Published June 27, 2016.
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Introductory_Chemistry_%28CK-
12%29/26%3A_Biochemistry/26.08%3A_Triglycerides
4. Triacylglycerol Metabolism - An Overview. Chemistry LibreTexts. Published August 5, 2017.
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Map
%3A_Fundamentals_of_General_Organic_and_Biological_Chemistry_%28McMurry_et_al.%29/24%3A_Lipid_Metabolism/
24.03%3A_Triacylglycerol_Metabolism_-_An_Overview
5. How to Lower High Triglycerides Naturally. Dr. Axe. Accessed January 16, 2024. https://draxe.com/health/high-triglycerides/
6. Herink M, Ito MK. Medication Induced Changes in Lipid and Lipoproteins. Nih.gov. Published May 10, 2018.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK326739/
7. Duggal DD. Triglycerides Normal Range, Risk of High Levels, Causes, & Prevention. Breathe Well-Being. Published April 5,
2022. https://www.breathewellbeing.in/blog/triglycerides-normal-range-risk-of-high-levels-causes-prevention/
8. ‌UpToDate. www.uptodate.com. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hypertriglyceridemia-in-adults-management/print