Eruptive Xanthomas

This Images in Clinical Medicine case describes a 27 year old man with obesity and high fat diet/alcohol use who presented with asymptomatic pink yellow papules on his back, arms, and hands. Laboratory tests revealed extreme hypertriglyceridemia (10,650 mg/dL) and hypercholesterolemia (1102 mg/dL). The diagnosis of eruptive xanthomas was made based on clinical presentation and lab findings. After one month of treatment with fenofibrate, lifestyle modifications (alcohol cessation, low-fat diet, exercise), the skin lesions resolved. The case highlights eruptive xanthomas as a cutaneous marker of severe dyslipidemia requiring prompt intervention to prevent complications like pancreatitis.

This Images in Clinical Medicine case describes a 27 year old man with obesity and high fat diet/alcohol use who presented with asymptomatic pink yellow papules on his back, arms, and hands. Laboratory tests revealed extreme hypertriglyceridemia (10,650 mg/dL) and hypercholesterolemia (1102 mg/dL). The diagnosis of eruptive xanthomas was made based on clinical presentation and lab findings. After one month of treatment with fenofibrate, lifestyle modifications (alcohol cessation, low-fat diet, exercise), the skin lesions resolved. The case highlights eruptive xanthomas as a cutaneous marker of severe dyslipidemia requiring prompt intervention to prevent complications like pancreatitis.