The Endocrine Society has published new guidelines on diagnosing and managing hypertriglyceridemia in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Among the recommendations:

• All adults should be screened for elevated triglyceride levels at least every 5 years as part of a lipid panel.
• Diagnosis should be based on fasting triglyceride levels.
• Medications and endocrine conditions should be ruled out as potential causes of elevated levels.
• For patients with primary hypertriglyceridemia, clinicians should assess other cardiovascular risk factors and family history.
• Mild-to-moderate hypertriglyceridemia (triglycerides of 150-999 mg/dL) should initially be managed with lifestyle therapy.
• For patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia (1000 mg/dL or higher), a fibrate should be the first-line therapy.

Source: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism