25 May 2026
: Case report 
Bilateral Congenital Chylothorax With Neonatal Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and Sepsis: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges: A Case Report
Unknown etiology, Challenging differential diagnosis, Management of emergency care
Leon B. Hajdari ABEF 1, Melihate Çekaj BCD 2*, Bese R. Morina DG 1, Vlere R. Morina DE 1DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.952519
Am J Case Rep 2026; 27:e952519
Table 4 Biochemical analysis of the subsequent pleural fluid sample.
| Parameter | Reference/interpretative values | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Pleural fluid triglycerides (mmol/L) | <0.56 (unlikely); 0.56–1.24 (indeterminate); >1.24 (suggestive of chylothorax) | 2.41 |
| Pleural fluid/serum triglyceride ratio | >1 (suggestive of chylothorax); <1 (suggestive of pseudochylothorax) | 1.88 |
| Pleural fluid total protein (g/L) | ≤30 (transudate); >30 (exudate) | 39.7 |
| Pleural fluid protein/serum protein ratio | ≤0.5 (transudate); >0.5 (exudate) | 0.75 |
| Serum-pleural fluid albumin gradient (g/L) | >12 (transudate); ≤12 (exudate) | 3.2 |
| Pleural fluid cholesterol (mmol/L) | <200 mg/dL (suggestive of chylothorax) | 1.59 (61.5 mg/dL) |
| Pleural fluid cholesterol/serum cholesterol ratio | <1 (suggestive of chylothorax); >1 (suggestive of pseudochylothorax) | 0.48 |
| Pleural fluid total bilirubin (μmol/L) | Not standardized | 13.2 |
| Pleural fluid direct bilirubin (μmol/L) | Not standardized | 3.8 |