Use of pleural fluid triglycerides and chylomicrons for the diagnosis of chylothorax

* When triglyceride and cholesterol levels were not obtained on initial thoracentesis, they can be added on to fluid stored in the laboratory. Occasionally, a repeat thoracentesis will need to be performed.

¶ In rare cases, chylothorax may still be suspected (eg, milky fluid in a patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis), in which case lipoprotein electrophoresis should be obtained.

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