Table 1. Causes of Hypertriglyceridemia
Primary hypertriglyceridemia
• Familial combined hyperlipidemia
• Familial hypoalphalipoproteinemia
• Familial hypertriglyceridemia
• Familial chylomicronemia and related disorders
• Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia
Primary genetic susceptibility
• Metabolic syndrome
• Treated type 2 diabetes
Secondary hypertriglyceridemia
• Excess alcohol intake
• Renal disease
• Drug-induced (eg, thiazides,
β-blockers, estrogens, isotretinoin,
corticosteroids, bile acid-binding
resins, antiretroviral protease
inhibitors, immunosuppressants,
antipsychotics)
• Liver disease
• Untreated diabetes mellitus
• Pregnancy
• Endocrine diseases
• Autoimmune disorders
Table 2. Criteria Proposed for Clinical Diagnosis of Elevated
Triglyceride Levels Under Fasting Conditions
NCEP ATP III (3)
The Endocrine Society 2010a
Normal
<150
mg/dL
<1.7 mmol/
liter
Normal
<150
mg/dL
<1.7 mmol/
liter
Borderlinehigh
triglycerides
150-199
mg/dL
1.7-2.3
mmol/liter
Mild HTG
150-199
mg/dL
1.7-2.3
mmol/liter
High
triglycerides
200-499
mg/dL
2.3-5.6
mmol/liter
Moderate
HTG
200-999
mg/dL
2.3-11.2
mmol/liter
Very high
triglycerides
≥500
mg/dL
≥5.6 mmol/
liter
Severe HTG
1000-1999
mg/dL
11.2-22.4
mmol/liter
Very severe
HTG
≥2000
mg/dL
≥22.4
mmol/liter
a
The criteria developed for the present guidelines focus on the ability to assess risk for premature CVD vs.
risk for pancreatitis. The designations of mild and moderate hypertriglyceridemia correspond to the range
of levels predominant in risk assessment for premature CVD, and this range includes the vast majority of
subjects with hypertriglyceridemia. Severe hypertriglyceridemia carries a susceptibility for intermittent
increases in levels above 2000 mg/dL and subsequent risk of pancreatitis; very severe hypertriglyceridemia
is indicative of risk for pancreatitis. In addition, these levels suggest different etiologies. Presence of mild or
moderate hypertriglyceridemia is commonly due to a dominant underlying cause in each patient, whereas
severe or very severe hypertriglyceridemia is more likely due to several contributing factors.
