Latrogenic lipidosis following prolonged intravenous hyperalimentation

Abstract

Intralipid was used as the main source of calories in the long-term therapy of a patient with severe nutritional failure and cachexia. The treatment was tolerated well for 64 days. The patient died of sepsis after a second therapeutic course which lasted 16 days adn was preceded by an impairment in liver function apparently related to starvation. At autopsy, free fat droplets and extreme foamy swelling of the cytoplasm of the reticuloendothelial cells were found in all examined organs. These findings constitute an unusual example of iatrogenic lipidosis. It is suggested that caution be exerted in the administration of Intralipid to patients with impaired liver function and that serum lipids be maintained regularly during therapy.