Hypertriglyceridemia is one of more common non-biliary non-alcoholic pancreatitis (meaning that is quite uncommon overall!), and is the most common (~55%) cause of pancreatitis in pregnancy.

While the pathogenesis is unclear, to induce pancreatitis serum triglyceride levels have to be at least 10 mmol/L and are typically >20 mmol/L. The underlying cause of hypertriglyceridemia is most commonly (~60%) a genetic disorder in lipid metabolism.