Severe Hypertriglyceridemia

CE / CME

Current Challenges and Emerging Treatments for the Management of Severe Hypertriglyceridemia

Physician Assistants/Physician Associates: 1.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credit

Nurses: 1.00 Nursing contact hour

Physicians: maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit

Released: January 28, 2024

Expiration: January 29, 2025

Michael Miller
Michael Miller, MD, FACC, FAHA

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Patients Can Benefit From Multidisciplinary Care

As we round this out, I want to focus on communication and connection with patients. Management of FCS is a multidisciplinary approach, so those patients also may be seen by other specialist healthcare professionals.43 To keep our patients engaged in care, we must work with these other teams and keep our patient informed.

FCS Foundation: Patient Advocacy Organization Committed to Supporting Those Affected by FCS

Patients wanting additional support also can turn to the FCS Foundation. The foundation helps people with FCS and those who assist with their care develop peer support groups through social media, helping them feel less isolated by engaging socially with others, enabling them to ask for tips on how to manage their disease, and improving their overall mental health.

Summary: Recognizing Differential Diagnoses Is Critical

In summary, recognizing differential diagnoses in severe hypertriglyceridemia is crucial. Although the symptoms can appear very similar—and the mainstay recommendations of diet and lifestyle modifications are similar for severe hypertriglyceridemia, MCM, and FCS—the standard therapies for lowering triglycerides in severe hypertriglyceridemia may not work for people with FCS who have impaired lipoprotein lipase activity. It is our responsibility as healthcare professionals to pursue an accurate, definitive diagnosis to prevent delays to proper care and enable coordination with the patient’s healthcare team.