Rapid reduction in triglyceride levels by therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) on lowering triglyceride (TG) levels in patients with hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis (HLAP). Methods: The TG-lowering in patients with HLAP was compared between the TPE group and conservative treatment group (non-TPE). The primary outcome was TG reduction to less than 500 mg/dL within 48 hours. Results: The primary outcome was significantly correlated with TPE (univariate analysis odds ratio [OR] 2.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30-5.79, P =.008; multivariate analysis OR 3.03; 95% CI 1.28-7.19, P =.012). At 24 and 48 hours, conservative treatment resulted in a 48.24% and 70.44% reduction in TG, while TPE resulted in a 70.91% and 76.39% reduction in TG, respectively. A more rapid decrease of in TGs in a short period was clearly associated with TPE (P