Severe Hypertriglyceridemia as a Cause of Aortic Thrombus with Peripheral Embolic Complications.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Hypertriglyceridemia is known to increase blood viscosity thus creating a hypercoagulable state. However, this predominantly has been associated with venous thrombosis.1,2 Pro-thrombotic mechanisms mediated by triglycerides include: 1) increased platelet aggregation, decreased antithrombin III activity, interaction with coagulation factors, 2) increase in proinflammatory markers, and 3) endothelial dysfunction. However, while hypertriglyceridemia has been associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis, its association with arterial thrombosis has not been described previously. We present a case of elevated triglycerides and isolated aortic atherothrombosis causing renal and splenic infarcts.