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

PFA: pleural fluid analysis.
* 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.