[Insulin therapy in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia]

A series of seven patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia (triglyceride levels > 1000 mg/dL) is presented. Four of the patients were diabetics, two of them were in treatment with anti-retroviral drugs, and three of them presented acute pancreatitis. In all patients intravenous infusion of insulin was initiated at a rate of 0.05-2 U/kg/day. Two and a half days after this treatment, the serum triglyceride level remained lower than 400 mg/dL. There were no complications during the treatment. The long treatment included basal insulin, fibrates and avoidance of pharmacotherapy. Insulin therapy for diabetic and non-diabetic patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia is an effective and safe treatment.