Pancreatitis Secondary to Dyslipidemia: An Understudied Condition

Dyslipidemia (DL), defined by dysregulated levels of lipids in the bloodstream, is an ever-growing problem in modern society. In addition to those with congenital defects in lipid metabolism, the pervasive nature of high-fat and high-calorie diets in modern industrialized societies has led to a meteoric increase in its incidence. Patients who suffer from this condition subsequently are at a higher risk of developing other co-morbid conditions, most notably diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. This review explores another arguably lesser-known consequence of DL, pancreatitis, which is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas. The goal of this article is to review the intersection of these two conditions by briefly highlighting the proposed pathophysiology and exploring the impact of DL (specifically hypertriglyceridemia) on acute, acute recurrent, and chronic pancreatitis. This paper additionally examines the long-term risks of developing pancreatic cancer in patients with pancreatitis secondary to DL and presents unique clinical scenarios that result in DL-associated pancreatitis. Finally, we discuss potential treatment options for hypertriglyceridemia which can potentially mitigate the risk of DL-associated pancreatitis.