Chylous ascites should suggest constrictive pericarditis even in a patient with cirrhosis.
Chylous ascites, a milky, high triglyceride fluid is usually found in patients with lymphatic obstruction from malignancy. We describe a patient with cirrhosis who developed constrictive pericarditis and chylous ascites. Long-standing portal hypertension compounded by elevated central venous pressure provided several pathophysiologic contributions to the formation of the chylous ascites. Chylous ascites even in a cirrhotic requires prompt assessment for conditions leading to elevated central venous pressure.
Williams
A T
AT
Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.
Schneider
R P
RP
D002915:Chylous Ascites / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*