Marked elevation of triglyceride levels appears to be causally linked to acute pancreatitis and is found in 12% to 38% of patients presenting with acute pancreatitis. Elevated cholesterol levels are not associated with pancreatitis. The pathogenesis of pancreatitis associated with hypertriglyceridemia is not clear. Clinical recognition of this association is extremely important, because therapy with diet and lipid-lowering agents may prevent development of pancreatitis.