Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41867932›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in pediatrics2026

Case Report: Pediatric chylous ascites beyond congenital malformations-infectious causes and nutritional management with a literature review.

Teresa Capriati, Annalisa Carciofi, Chiara Grimaldi, Andrzej Krzysztofiak, Simona Gatti, Maria Elena Lionetti, Michela Caprarelli, Annalisa Morelli, Lucia Tulli, Antonella Diamanti

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Teresa CapriatiDigestive Diseases and Nutritional Rehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Annalisa CarciofiDigestive Diseases and Nutritional Rehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Chiara GrimaldiSurgical Oncology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Andrzej KrzysztofiakInfectious Diseases Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Simona GattiDepartment of Pediatrics, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Maria Elena LionettiDepartment of Pediatrics, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Michela CaprarelliDigestive Diseases and Nutritional Rehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Annalisa MorelliDigestive Diseases and Nutritional Rehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Lucia TulliDigestive Diseases and Nutritional Rehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Antonella DiamantiDigestive Diseases and Nutritional Rehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Chylous ascites (CA) is a condition characterized by the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Although congenital malformations are the most common cause in newborns, infectious agents represent a clinically significant, potentially reversible etiology that benefits from specific therapy. Various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, can alter the lymphatic system and lead to the leakage of chyle into the peritoneal cavity, resulting in nutritional, immunological, and metabolic deficiencies. We describe the case of a 5-month-old infant presenting with acute abdomen (vomiting, irritability, and abdominal distension) associated with elevated lipase levels. He underwent emergency laparotomy, which revealed chylous ascites in the absence of structural abnormalities. Initial empiric management, centered on the diagnosis of CA, included fasting and total parenteral nutrition (TPN), followed by a gradual dietary transition from a lipid-free milk formula to a formula enriched in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and reduced in long-chain triglycerides, which was well tolerated. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was identified as the underlying cause and confirmed by PCR on blood, urine, ascitic fluid, and gastric biopsies. The etiological diagnosis allowed for specific antiviral therapy, which, combined with nutritional support, led to complete resolution of the case. We also review published cases of infectious CA in children, analyzing the clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic strategies. Particular attention is paid to nutritional management. Interventions including the use of TPN, fat-free formulas, or MCT-enriched formulas are also important in infectious etiologies for temporarily controlling the chyle loss mechanism while awaiting complete lymphatic restitution. This review emphasizes the importance of recognizing infectious etiologies in chylous ascites and emphasizes the critical role of personalized nutritional support in optimizing recovery.

Indexed as

case reportchylous ascites (CA)cytomegalovirus (CMV)lymphatic diseaseparenteral nutrition (PN)

Identifiers

PMID41867932
PMCPMC12999782

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.