Acute Pancreatitis with Eruptive Xanthomas

A 54‐year‐old man presented with a 1‐day history of epigastric abdominal pain. He also described 1 month of a nonpruritic but tender rash, on his right elbow, abdomen, buttocks, posterior thighs, and knees. He was obese with a past medical history remarkable for uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus and hemoglobin A1C of 12.7. His abdomen was tender to palpation in the epigastric area with no rebound or guarding. Skin examination demonstrated multiple yellow waxy papules on the extensor surfaces of his arms, abdomen, thighs, knees, and buttocks, consistent with eruptive xanthomas (Figure 1). Laboratory values were significant for lipase at 852 g/L (normal, 8‐78 g/L) and triglycerides at 6200 mg/dL. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan without contrast demonstrated extensive inflammatory changes surrounding the head of the pancreas, consistent with acute pancreatitis (Figure 2). The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridemia was made. Dietary and pharmacologic interventions helped decrease the triglyceride level and his rash and abdominal pain were improved at outpatient follow‐up 2 weeks later.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Hypertriglyceridemia increases the risk of acute pancreatitis.1 Eruptive xanthomas can be associated with primary and secondary hypertriglyceridemia, particularly in the setting of poorly controlled diabetes.2 The risk of acute pancreatitis and eruptive xanthomas increases when the level of serum triglyceride reaches the thousands.

Rapid recognition of eruptive xanthomas can assist in identifying the etiology of acute pancreatitis.

A 54‐year‐old man presented with a 1‐day history of epigastric abdominal pain. He also described 1 month of a nonpruritic but tender rash, on his right elbow, abdomen, buttocks, posterior thighs, and knees. He was obese with a past medical history remarkable for uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus and hemoglobin A1C of 12.7. His abdomen was tender to palpation in the epigastric area with no rebound or guarding. Skin examination demonstrated multiple yellow waxy papules on the extensor surfaces of his arms, abdomen, thighs, knees, and buttocks, consistent with eruptive xanthomas (Figure 1). Laboratory values were significant for lipase at 852 g/L (normal, 8‐78 g/L) and triglycerides at 6200 mg/dL. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan without contrast demonstrated extensive inflammatory changes surrounding the head of the pancreas, consistent with acute pancreatitis (Figure 2). The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridemia was made. Dietary and pharmacologic interventions helped decrease the triglyceride level and his rash and abdominal pain were improved at outpatient follow‐up 2 weeks later.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Hypertriglyceridemia increases the risk of acute pancreatitis.1 Eruptive xanthomas can be associated with primary and secondary hypertriglyceridemia, particularly in the setting of poorly controlled diabetes.2 The risk of acute pancreatitis and eruptive xanthomas increases when the level of serum triglyceride reaches the thousands.

Rapid recognition of eruptive xanthomas can assist in identifying the etiology of acute pancreatitis.

A 54‐year‐old man presented with a 1‐day history of epigastric abdominal pain. He also described 1 month of a nonpruritic but tender rash, on his right elbow, abdomen, buttocks, posterior thighs, and knees. He was obese with a past medical history remarkable for uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus and hemoglobin A1C of 12.7. His abdomen was tender to palpation in the epigastric area with no rebound or guarding. Skin examination demonstrated multiple yellow waxy papules on the extensor surfaces of his arms, abdomen, thighs, knees, and buttocks, consistent with eruptive xanthomas (Figure 1). Laboratory values were significant for lipase at 852 g/L (normal, 8‐78 g/L) and triglycerides at 6200 mg/dL. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan without contrast demonstrated extensive inflammatory changes surrounding the head of the pancreas, consistent with acute pancreatitis (Figure 2). The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridemia was made. Dietary and pharmacologic interventions helped decrease the triglyceride level and his rash and abdominal pain were improved at outpatient follow‐up 2 weeks later.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Hypertriglyceridemia increases the risk of acute pancreatitis.1 Eruptive xanthomas can be associated with primary and secondary hypertriglyceridemia, particularly in the setting of poorly controlled diabetes.2 The risk of acute pancreatitis and eruptive xanthomas increases when the level of serum triglyceride reaches the thousands.

Rapid recognition of eruptive xanthomas can assist in identifying the etiology of acute pancreatitis.