Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Acute pancreatitis is a frequent cause of abdominal pain in the emergency department, but identifying less common triggers - such as hypertriglyceridemia - requires careful clinical observation. In this case, a visual clue during phlebotomy - a milky, lipemic appearance of the patient's serum - prompted targeted testing that revealed severely elevated triglycerides. Since lipid panels are not routinely ordered in ED patients with abdominal pain, such subtle findings can be critical for early diagnosis. Prompt recognition is key, as the management of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis differs significantly from more common etiologies and often includes insulin infusion or other triglyceride-lowering therapies.
Source: Cureus
Authors: Claud Bugheni, Vijay Reddy
Institutions: Augusta University, Augusta University Health
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7124749222