Table 1.

Criteria proposed for clinical diagnosis of elevated triglyceride levels under fasting conditions

NCEP ATP III (3)			The Endocrine Society 2010a
Normal	<150 mg/dl	<1.7 mmol/liter	Normal	<150 mg/dl	<1.7 mmol/liter
Borderline-high triglycerides	150–199 mg/dl	1.7–2.3 mmol/liter	Mild hypertriglyceridemia	150–199 mg/dl	1.7–2.3 mmol/liter
High triglycerides	200–499 mg/dl	2.3–5.6 mmol/liter	Moderate hypertriglyceridemia	200–999 mg/dl	2.3–11.2 mmol/liter
Very high triglycerides	≥500 mg/dl	≥5.6 mmol/liter	Severe hypertriglyceridemia	1000–1999 mg/dl	11.2–22.4 mmol/liter
			Very severe hypertriglyceridemia	≥2000 mg/dl	≥22.4 mmol/liter

^aThe criteria developed for the present guidelines focus on the ability to assess risk for premature CVD vs. risk for pancreatitis. The designations of mild and moderate hypertriglyceridemia correspond to the range of levels predominant in risk assessment for premature CVD, and this range includes the vast majority of subjects with hypertriglyceridemia. Severe hypertriglyceridemia carries a susceptibility for intermittent increases in levels above 2000 mg/dl and subsequent risk of pancreatitis; very severe hypertriglyceridemia is indicative of risk for pancreatitis. In addition, these levels suggest different etiologies. Presence of mild or moderate hypertriglyceridemia is commonly due to a dominant underlying cause in each patient, whereas severe or very severe hypertriglyceridemia is more likely due to several contributing factors.