Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Acute Pancreatitis Exacerbated by Combined Oral Contraceptive Use: A Case Report

Abstract

Acute pancreatitis can be induced by a vast variety of etiologies including its more common causes such as cholelithiasis and alcohol abuse, but in certain cases it can also be secondary to hypertriglyceridemia. Additionally, combined oral contraceptive use can enhance the severity of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP). The data between this association is much more limited than the more common causes of acute pancreatitis. In this case, we aim to highlight the onset of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis due to recent combined oral contraceptive use in a 34-year-old Hispanic female patient with a family history of hypertriglyceridemia. With the initiation of a low-fat diet, insulin regimen, and lipid-lowering medications, she was able to significantly improve her elevated triglyceride levels from 3772 to 440 throughout the duration of her six-day hospital stay. Due to the less commonly known relationship between combined oral contraceptive use and HTG-AP, this case serves to enhance understanding of the pathophysiology of this condition, the appropriate diagnostic evaluation, and the associated treatment options to optimize patient care and create efficacious management plans. By increasing awareness of this association, patients with familial hypertriglyceridemia can be made aware of the risks of combined oral contraceptive use to accordingly prevent complications and improve clinical outcomes.