Secondary hypertriglyceridemia

Secondary hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) are the most common cause of excess triglyceride rich particles in plasma. Faced with HTG, the first thing to do is rule out if there is a secondary cause since it can interact with genetic susceptibility and further aggravate the HTG. The most common causes are diet with high fat and high glycemic index, obesity, diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption, renal disease like nephrotic syndrome, hepatic disorders and medications. The most important medications that can influence in HTG are oestrogen, isotretinoin, immunosuppressant therapy, L-asparaginase and with less effect thiazides, beta blockers, atypical antipsychotics and glucocorticoids. Other causes less frequent are endocrinological diseases such as Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly, hypothyroidism; pregnancy, lipodystrophies and autoimmune diseases. Lastly, the identifications and treatment or correction of secondary causes is a corner stone in the treatment of this disease.