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Sodium Taurocholate Induced Severe Acute Pancreatitis in C57BL/6 Mice
Published on: June 28, 2021
Tamoxifen-induced hypertriglyceridemia causing acute pancreatitis
Hemant Kumar Singh1, Mahendranath S Prasad1, Arun K Kandasamy1
1Department of Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
Tamoxifen can paradoxically elevate triglycerides, leading to severe pancreatitis. Promptly switching medication and initiating statins reversed these life-threatening effects in a patient.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Tamoxifen exhibits tissue-specific estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects.
- It can paradoxically impact lipid metabolism, increasing triglyceride and chylomicron levels.
Observation:
- A 50-year-old diabetic female on tamoxifen (20mg/day) for breast cancer developed severe hypertriglyceridemia and acute pancreatitis within 3 months.
- Key laboratory findings included elevated serum amylase, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, with low high-density lipoproteins (HDL).
Findings:
- Tamoxifen therapy was associated with severe hypertriglyceridemia (4568 mg/dL) and acute pancreatitis.
- Substitution with letrozole and initiation of atorvastatin led to a prompt reversal of hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis.
Implications:
- Clinicians must consider tamoxifen's potential adverse effects on lipid profiles, particularly in predisposed individuals.
- Early recognition and management of tamoxifen-induced hypertriglyceridemia are crucial to prevent life-threatening complications like pancreatitis.
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