# Endo Plasmapheresis Consideration Extraordinarily Elevated Tg

> Consider plasmapheresis for extraordinarily elevated triglyceride levels

- Skill: `dromlakhani/endo-plasmapheresis-consideration-extraordinarily-elevated-t` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add dromlakhani/endo-plasmapheresis-consideration-extraordinarily-elevated-t`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/dromlakhani/endo-plasmapheresis-consideration-extraordinarily-elevated-t/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: dromlakhani (https://skillmd.com/u/dromlakhani)
- Updated: 2026-09-21
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/dromlakhani/endo-plasmapheresis-consideration-extraordinarily-elevated-t

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# Consider plasmapheresis for extraordinarily elevated triglyceride levels

## STEP 1 — Gather Information
Measure fasting triglyceride level, assess response to conventional therapy (diet, fibrates, omega-3 fatty acids, insulin, glycemic control), document pregnancy status, evaluate for pancreatitis (abdominal pain, amylase/lipase), screen for contraindications (bleeding disorder, hemodynamic instability, citrate intolerance). Proceed to step 2.

## STEP 2 — Rule In / Rule Out
Is TG >10,000 mg/dL and unresponsive to conventional therapy OR pregnant patient with extreme TG elevation (e.g., TG >5,000 mg/dL with pancreatitis symptoms)? If yes, go to step 3; else, do not consider plasmapheresis (rule out).

## STEP 3 — Classify or Stratify
Classify as either "Extraordinarily elevated TG (>10,000 mg/dL) unresponsive to conventional therapy" or "Pregnant patient with extreme TG elevation". Proceed to step 4 for respective pathway.

## STEP 4 — Decide
For extraordinary TG: consider plasmapheresis after hematology/nephrology consult, limit sessions, monitor ionized calcium; for pregnancy: consider plasmapheresis only if life-threatening pancreatitis refractory to other measures, after obstetrics and critical care consult, with fetal monitoring. Initiate plasmapheresis if criteria met; otherwise continue conventional therapy and monitor.

## Clinical Guardrails / Mimics / Pitfalls
Do not use as first-line therapy for TG-induced pancreatitis; avoid in patients with active bleeding, severe hypotension, or citrate intolerance; do not replace underlying therapy (e.g., glycemic control, lipid-lowering agents); monitor for hypocalcemia, arrhythmias; limit to short-term bridge.

## Concrete Clinical Example
A 28‑year‑old pregnant woman at 32 weeks gestation presents with TG 12,500 mg/dL, epigastric pain, amylase 820 U/L, unresponsive to fibrates and insulin infusion; after obstetrics and hematology review, plasmapheresis reduces TG to 4,200 mg/dL and pancreatitis resolves.

**Source:** Lipid Management in Patients with Endocrine Disorders: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline, Endocrine Society, 2020, doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa674
> **TODO:** consider adding scripts/calc.py for the endo-plasmapheresis-consideration-extraordinarily-elevated-tg calculator