Chylous ascites: report of one case.

Chylous ascites is rare if found in the pediatric age group, and is usually of unknown etiology or comes from congenital anomalies of the lymphatic system. A 3.2 kg male newborn was born at 36-week gestation by Cesarean section prompted by fetal distress. Distended abdomen was noted after birth and abdominal ultrasound revealed significant ascites. Repeated paracenteses were done to relieve the respiratory distress, and a milky ascitic fluid with specific gravity of 1.031, WBC 1.32 x 10(4)/mm3 (lymphocytes predominant), and triglycerides 812 mg/dl was noted at the third tapping after feeding with normal infant formula. The lipoprotein electrophoresis of the ascites showed great increase in proportion of chylomicron to 19.05%. Pregestimil was given, and the ascites gradually subsided. The patient was discharged on the 13th day after birth. His growth was normal at one-month follow up without recurrence of ascites.