Bone Breaking Triglycerides

A 40 yo African American female with pmhx of T2DM, DLD was admitted for worsening leg and arm pain that started a year prior but had worsened in the last 6 months. Pain started in the right arm and progressed to include the right leg and left leg. She had presented to the ER 3 times in the last 3 weeks with no diagnosis and prescribed anti-inflammatories. On ROS she had unintended weight loss of 50 lbs. Pain was not relieved with anti-inflammatories or narcotics. She was diagnosed with diabetes in the previous 5 years and had not been compliant with her medications. Plain x-rays showed OA of the hip. An osseus survey showed multiple expansile, bubbly, and lucent intramedullary lesions consistent with polyostotic fibrous dysplasia versus multiple myeloma. CT showed a radiolucent lesion of the left femur with absence of normal bone trabeculae. Her labs showed normal calcium, phosphorous, renal function, PTH and no evidence of monoclonal gammopathy. Vitamin D was low at 8.2 ng/ml (6.6–49 ng/ml). CT CAP showed no concern for malignancy in other organs. A lipid profile was done and showed elevated fasting triglycerides of 2617 mg/dL (<150 mg/dl) and LDL direct 54 mg/dl (<100 mg/dl). A1c was 11.2% on admission. She denied any use of alcohol, estrogens, SSRI’s. No history of pancreatitis. On physical exam she did not have tendinous xanthomas, eruptive xanthomas, palmar xanthomas, or lipemia retinalis. Family history not significant for lipid disorders. Patient was fasted for 24 hours and then started on intensive insulin regimen as well as fenofibrate for hypertriglyceridemia. Triglycerides came down to less than 500 over 7 days. She was evaluated by ortho for her bone lesions and underwent bone lesion biopsy as well as prophylactic IMN of her bilateral femurs for prevention of impending fragility fractures. Bone biopsy was significant for xanthoma of the bone. Following discharge, she remained on fenofibrate and fish oil as well as a basal/bolus insulin regimen. Triglycerides remained controlled. She has not followed up outpatient for further workup. This case highlights an atypical presentation of triglyceride deposition in the setting of hypertriglyceridemia. It shows that hypertriglyceridemia should be included in the differential for lytic lesions when preliminary workup is negative. It also highlights that complications other than pancreatitis and cardiovascular disease can significantly alter a patient’s life if triglycerides go untreated.