Volume and contents of
lipid and
protein in the pleural fluid from a three weeks old girl with spontaneous
chylothorax were studied (a) during parenteral, nonfatty nutrition and later (b) during administration of a formula (Biosorbin) containing medium chain
triglycerides (MCT). The pleural fluid production could not be correlated to the treatment employed but suddenly ceased after 20 days management.
Triglyceride and total
esterified fatty acid concentrations in pleural fluid were high on admission when feeded with human milk, and
chylomicrons and other
lipoproteins were present in the chyle. During parenteral treatment a pronounced decrease in pleural fluid concentrations of
triglyceride and total
fatty acids occurred concomitant with a disappearance of the
chylomicrons. During the following MCT diet a pronounced increase in
triglyceride and total
fatty acids concentrations appeared and the
chylomicrons reappeared in the chyle. The
cholesterol and
phospholipid concentrations in the pleural fluid showed only small changes during the different treatments. No significant changes in
protein and
albumin concentrations of chyle were observed. It is concluded, that administration of the
Biosorbin MCT formula, containing 871/2% of the fat as MCT, seems without value ih the treatment of spontaneous, neonatal
chylothorax.