What is severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG)?

sHTG is a medical condition marked by exceptionally high levels of triglycerides (TGs) in the blood.7

Blood normally contains some level of triglycerides. They play an important role in giving the body energy.2,9

In most people, blood triglyceride levels usually stay below 150 mg/dL.9 However, long periods of time with triglyceride levels above 150 mg/dL – called hypertriglyceridemia – may cause health problems such as acute pancreatitis, heart disease, or stroke.2,9

Severe hypertriglyceridemia is when triglyceride levels are very high, typically 500 mg/dL or above. With this increased level of TGs comes an increased risk for complications.8,15,16,17

While there are many causes of sHTG, some people with triglyceride levels above 880 mg/dL may have a genetic condition known as familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS).1,38