Serendipitous Discovery of Lipemia Retinalis in a Premature Infant: A Case Report

Introduction: Lipemia retinalis (LR) is a rare ocular condition characterized by a creamy white appearance of the retinal vessels, which is indicative of significantly elevated serum triglyceride (TG) levels. This condition is particularly noteworthy in pediatric populations, especially i...

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Main Authors: Homayoun Nikkhah, Narges Karrabi, Ehsan Yazdani, Rezvan Nezameslami
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Karger Publishers 2024-12-01
Series:Case Reports in Ophthalmology
Online Access:https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000542961
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author Homayoun Nikkhah
Narges Karrabi
Ehsan Yazdani
Rezvan Nezameslami
author_facet Homayoun Nikkhah
Narges Karrabi
Ehsan Yazdani
Rezvan Nezameslami
author_sort Homayoun Nikkhah
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Lipemia retinalis (LR) is a rare ocular condition characterized by a creamy white appearance of the retinal vessels, which is indicative of significantly elevated serum triglyceride (TG) levels. This condition is particularly noteworthy in pediatric populations, especially in preterm infants who are at risk for various metabolic disorders. Case Presentation: We report a case of LR in a 44-day-old preterm infant identified during routine retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening. Unusual retinal findings led to metabolic investigations, revealing elevated TG levels confirming LR. The infant was managed with a dietary regimen including skimmed milk, resulting in a substantial decrease in TG levels and complete resolution of the retinal changes. Conclusion: Fundus examination serves as a portal to the systemic health of an individual, enabling rare identification of LR, indicative of underlying dyslipidemia. This case underscores the necessity for comprehensive metabolic screening in preterm infants, particularly during ROP assessments. Furthermore, it emphasizes the effectiveness of dietary interventions in managing LR. The favorable outcomes stress the significance of early detection of LR in pediatric patients and implementing nutritional strategies to enhance metabolic well-being, thereby averting severe hypertriglyceridemia complications.
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spelling doaj-art-aad9fba9876c4dcc9cae210a2da1599b2025-08-20T01:51:04ZengKarger PublishersCase Reports in Ophthalmology1663-26992024-12-011611610.1159/000542961Serendipitous Discovery of Lipemia Retinalis in a Premature Infant: A Case ReportHomayoun NikkhahNarges Karrabihttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4489-5435Ehsan YazdaniRezvan Nezameslami Introduction: Lipemia retinalis (LR) is a rare ocular condition characterized by a creamy white appearance of the retinal vessels, which is indicative of significantly elevated serum triglyceride (TG) levels. This condition is particularly noteworthy in pediatric populations, especially in preterm infants who are at risk for various metabolic disorders. Case Presentation: We report a case of LR in a 44-day-old preterm infant identified during routine retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening. Unusual retinal findings led to metabolic investigations, revealing elevated TG levels confirming LR. The infant was managed with a dietary regimen including skimmed milk, resulting in a substantial decrease in TG levels and complete resolution of the retinal changes. Conclusion: Fundus examination serves as a portal to the systemic health of an individual, enabling rare identification of LR, indicative of underlying dyslipidemia. This case underscores the necessity for comprehensive metabolic screening in preterm infants, particularly during ROP assessments. Furthermore, it emphasizes the effectiveness of dietary interventions in managing LR. The favorable outcomes stress the significance of early detection of LR in pediatric patients and implementing nutritional strategies to enhance metabolic well-being, thereby averting severe hypertriglyceridemia complications. https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000542961
spellingShingle Homayoun Nikkhah
Narges Karrabi
Ehsan Yazdani
Rezvan Nezameslami
Serendipitous Discovery of Lipemia Retinalis in a Premature Infant: A Case Report
Case Reports in Ophthalmology
title Serendipitous Discovery of Lipemia Retinalis in a Premature Infant: A Case Report
title_full Serendipitous Discovery of Lipemia Retinalis in a Premature Infant: A Case Report
title_fullStr Serendipitous Discovery of Lipemia Retinalis in a Premature Infant: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Serendipitous Discovery of Lipemia Retinalis in a Premature Infant: A Case Report
title_short Serendipitous Discovery of Lipemia Retinalis in a Premature Infant: A Case Report
title_sort serendipitous discovery of lipemia retinalis in a premature infant a case report
url https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000542961
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