J Korean Endocr Soc.  2007 Oct;22(5):381-385. 10.3803/jkes.2007.22.5.381.

A Case of Acute Pancreatitis and Severe Hypertriglyceridemia Associated with Clozapine

• Park HK
• Won HJ
• Ahn HS
• Lee BS
• Kim SG
• Lee WJ
• Ko KS
• Rhee BD

• KMID: 1523110
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3803/jkes.2007.22.5.381

Abstract

Clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic agent, has been linked to several cases of acute pancreatitis and hypertriglyceridemia. However, neither acute pancreatitis nor hypertriglyceridemia associated with clozapine has yet been reported in the Republic of Korea. Based on recent experience, we report on a case of severe hypertriglyceridemia and acute pancreatitis associated with clozapine. A 37-year-old schizophrenic woman in good physical condition presented with abdominal pain of acute onset. She had been taking clozapine for 20 months to control her schizophrenia. On admission, her serum triglyceride level was 6,670 mg/dL. Elevated serum amylase and lipase levels, as well as abdominal computed tomography findings, were compatible with acute pancreatitis. After discontinuing the use of clozapine, the serum triglyceride level was normalized and acute pancreatitis resolved.

Keyword

Clozapine; Hypertriglyceridemia; Pancreatitis

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Adult
Amylases
Clozapine*
Female
Humans
Hypertriglyceridemia*
Lipase
Pancreatitis*
Republic of Korea
Schizophrenia
Triglycerides
Amylases
Clozapine
Lipase

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Lipemic serum at admission. Turbid plasma layer appeared after leaving patient's serum in a refrigerator overnight.

• 

  Fig. 2 Computed tomography (CT) findings. A. Initial abdominal CT shows multiple peripancreatic fat infiltration (arrows), pericolic fluid collection (arrow head), demonstrating CT grade E acute pancreatitis. B. Follow-up abdominal CT shows improvement of peripancreatic fat infiltration and fluid collection.

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