Using fresh frozen plasma as an emergency treatment modality for hypertriglyceridaemic acute pancreatitis in a resource-constrained environment: A case report and review of literature

Trop Doct. 2021 Oct;51(4):650-651. doi: 10.1177/00494755211005564. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Abstract

Hypertriglyceridaemia is associated with severe disease such as coronary disease, cerebral vascular accidents and acute pancreatitis. Severe hypertriglyceridaemia is defined as a serum triglyceride value of >55 mmol/L. Hypertriglyceridaemic acute pancreatitis, often found in pregnancy, has a higher mortality rate than the other causes of acute pancreatitis. The cornerstone of treatment is to lower the triglyceride level as quickly as possible. In a resource-constrained environment, plasma exchange is not a viable option. Therefore, exploring the possible efficacity of directly infusing fresh frozen plasma is applicable to rural emergency medicine and may lead to more definitive research. In our case study, we used fresh frozen plasma to enhance the removal of triglyceride because it contains lipoprotein lipase.

Keywords: Africa; endocrine; physiology; public health; surgery; treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Emergency Treatment
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertriglyceridemia* / complications
  • Hypertriglyceridemia* / therapy
  • Pancreatitis* / therapy
  • Plasma
  • Pregnancy