Chylous ascites: an unusual complication of peritoneal dialysis in an infant with congenital nephrotic syndrome

Chylous ascites is a rare but important non-infectious complication in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. A male infant of 1.5-month-old with congenital nephrotic syndrome admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit becasue of deterioration in general appearence, diffuse edematous appearance and respiratory distress. Peritoneal catheter insertion and peritoneal dialysis was performed in the 3rd day of hospitalization. Five days after peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion (on the 8th day of hospitalization) the peritoneal dialysis effluent had a milky appearance. The chemical analysis of the milky effluent showed characteristics of chylous ascites: triglycerides 468 mg/dl. The chylous ascites resolved at the 5th day of our treatment with a low fat diet with medium chain triglycerides and intravenous infusion of somatostatin analogue (octreotide) and the patient was transferred to the pediatric service for maintenance of the treatment.