Pregnancy complicated by severe hyperlipemia
Seiersen, E.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 141(4): 233-236
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 760298 Document Number: 150271
Two young women with no known hereditary predisposition developed hyperlipaemia in each of two pregnancies. Both patients had used oral contraceptive pills for 3 years before the first pregnancy. Both developed acute pancreatitis as a complication of hyperlipaemia and were treated by emergency caesarean section before term. The infants were normal. The hyperlipaemia induced by pregnancy disappeared in one of the patients during treatment with diet while the disorder persisted to some extent in the other patient despite dietary measures. Treatment is recommended for hyperlipaemia in pregnant women discovered by routine examination. In patients in whom acute deterioration occurs with symptoms of pancreatitis, intravenous fluids and complete fasting for 72 h are recommended so that the pregnancy can continue to term.