title: [Grade III lipemia retinalis in a 14-year-old girl].
abstract: A case of grade III lipemia retinalis is reported in a 14-year-old girl presenting to the emergency department with fatigue and somnolence. Diabetic ketoacidosis diagnostic of type 1 diabetes mellitus and severe hypertriglyceridemia (23,508 mg/dL) were found on routine blood tests. The patient was admitted to the hospital, kept NPO, and intravenous insulin was started. Her symptoms rapidly improved as did the lipid panel and fundus exam. Cases of lipemia retinalis described in the literature typically occur at a blood triglyceride level above 2,000-2,500 mg/dL. A high level of chylomicrons is responsible for the milky appearance of the serum and retinal vessels. Once the blood triglyceride level decreases significantly, the fundus appearance usually returns to normal.
authors.affiliation: Service d'ophtalmologie de l'Hôtel-Dieu de France, CHU de l'université Saint-Joseph, boulevard Alfred Naccache, Achrafieh, Beyrouth, Liban. ramielhala@hotmail.com
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El Rami
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chelala
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kourié
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Antoun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003241:Consanguinity; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology