Medical Term for High Triglycerides
The medical term for high triglycerides is hypertriglyceridemia. 1
Definition and Classification
Hypertriglyceridemia is defined as elevated fasting serum triglyceride levels, with specific thresholds established by major medical societies 1:
- Mild hypertriglyceridemia: 150-199 mg/dL (1.7-2.3 mmol/L) 1
- Moderate hypertriglyceridemia: 200-999 mg/dL (2.3-11.3 mmol/L) 1
- Severe hypertriglyceridemia: 1,000-1,999 mg/dL (11.3-22.6 mmol/L) 1
- Very severe hypertriglyceridemia: ≥2,000 mg/dL (≥22.6 mmol/L) 1
Clinical Significance
The term hypertriglyceridemia encompasses both the biochemical finding and its clinical implications 2, 3:
- Mild to moderate elevations (150-499 mg/dL) are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk through triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and remnant cholesterol 1, 4
- Severe elevations (≥500 mg/dL) significantly increase the risk of acute pancreatitis 1, 2
Common Terminology in Clinical Practice
While "hypertriglyceridemia" is the formal medical term, clinicians may also use related terminology 1:
- Familial hypertriglyceridemia refers to genetic forms of the condition 1, 5
- Secondary hypertriglyceridemia indicates elevated triglycerides due to other medical conditions, medications, or lifestyle factors 1, 5
- Primary hypertriglyceridemia denotes genetic defects in triglyceride metabolism without identifiable secondary causes 6
Diagnostic Approach
Diagnosis should be based on fasting serum triglyceride levels (after a 12-hour fast) to ensure accurate measurement 1, 7. The Endocrine Society and American Academy of Family Physicians emphasize that most cases are secondary and potentially reversible, requiring evaluation for underlying causes including obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism, medications, and excessive alcohol intake 1, 5.