title: Possible role of short-term parenteral nutrition with fat emulsions for development of haemophagocytosis with multiple organ failure in a patient with traumatic brain injury.
abstract: We describe a case of life-threatening haemophagocytosis after a short term nutrition with fat emulsion in a 21-year-old woman who sustained an isolated traumatic brain injury. Hypertriglyceridemia and "creaming plasma" were observed after a three-day period of parenteral fat nutrition (Intralipid 20%). She also developed rash, high fever (40-41 degrees C), hypertension, raised intracranial pressure, hepatic and renal failure, haemolysis, marked thrombocyto- and leucopenia, coagulation disorder and pulmonary failure. These symptoms, together with a typical bone marrow smear, indicated haemophagocytosis with hyperactivation of the monocyte-macrophage system. We suggest that the hyperactivation was an effect of fat retention or agglutination of the fat particles; the initial triggering mechanism may emanate from the brain damage by hypercytokinaemia. The steroid treatment given most likely contributed to the successful outcome, as indicated by the stepwise improvement related in time to the steroid infusions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Grände
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nilsson-Ehle
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eliasson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D015616:Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology*; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003404:Creatinine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000681:Amylases; D008775:Methylprednisolone