Therapeutic plasma exchange in the setting of recurrent acute pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridemia: A case report

Acute pancreatitis has many aetiological factors, with the most common metabolic cause being hypertriglyceridemia. The management of refractory hypertriglyceridemia in the setting of pancreatitis lacks clear guidelines and protocols. Urgent reduction in triglyceride levels has been shown to alleviate symptoms. Therapeutic plasma exchange has been used as one of the emergent therapies in recurrent pancreatitis, with associated improvement in the patient’s clinical presentation. We therefore present a case of a patient with recurrent acute pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridemia, who was managed on oral medications, and subsequently referred for therapeutic plasma exchange due to persistently elevated triglycerides, with symptomatic relief.