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