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:
Endocrine Society Classification:
- 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 American Heart Association and Endocrine Society emphasize that the clinical implications vary by severity 1:
- Mild to moderate elevations (150-999 mg/dL) are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk 1
- Severe elevations (≥1,000 mg/dL) significantly increase the risk of acute pancreatitis 1
- Very severe elevations (≥2,000 mg/dL) pose immediate risk for pancreatitis 1
Common Terminology in Clinical Practice
While "hypertriglyceridemia" is the formal medical term, clinicians may also use related terminology depending on the underlying cause 1:
Genetic forms:
- Familial hypertriglyceridemia - inherited disorder causing elevated triglycerides 1
- Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) - genetic disorder affecting multiple lipid parameters 1
Secondary forms are described by their underlying cause (e.g., "hypertriglyceridemia secondary to diabetes" or "medication-induced hypertriglyceridemia") 1
Important Clinical Caveat
The American Academy of Family Physicians emphasizes that most cases of hypertriglyceridemia are secondary to modifiable factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol intake, poorly controlled diabetes, or certain medications 1. Therefore, identifying the underlying cause is essential for appropriate management, as addressing secondary causes may eliminate the need for specific lipid-lowering therapy 2.