Zhejiang woman treated for acute pancreatitis and milky white plasma

A 32-year-old woman in Zhejiang, China, was hospitalized with acute pancreatitis after experiencing severe abdominal pain, fever, and nausea following a meal of spicy crayfish and watermelon. Medical examinations revealed extremely high triglyceride levels, causing her plasma to appear thick and milky white rather than the typical pale yellow.

Doctors at the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine performed a plasma exchange, replacing approximately 2.6 liters of plasma over two hours to rapidly reduce lipid levels in her circulation. Following the procedure, her lipid levels decreased significantly, and her symptoms improved.

Although the patient was not obese, medical staff identified several contributing lifestyle factors. These included long-term use of hormonal contraceptives, frequent consumption of powdered milk and instant coffee containing vegetable cream, and a high intake of sugary foods and beverages.