[Acute pancreatitis caused by chylomicronemia syndrome]

Pancreatitis caused by chylomicronaemia was diagnosed in three patients, two men of 36 and 51 years and a woman of 33 years. All three patients had a combined hyperlipidaemia, with severely elevated levels of triglycerides and cholesterol. Secondary causes of hypertriglyceridaemia such as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, alcohol abuse, and non-compliance with diet and lipid lowering drug therapy caused aggravation of the lipid disorder. It is important to consider chylomicronaemia as a possible cause of pancreatitis, as treatment of the lipid disorder with diet and, if necessary, drugs can prevent recurrence of pancreatitis.