Successful treatment of chylous ascites secondary to Mycobacterium avium complex in a patient with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Chylous ascites is a rare form of ascites, the presence of which generally denotes a very poor long term prognosis. We report the case of a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and massive chylous ascites secondary to Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection, identified in the ascitic fluid by a DNA probe assay. With multidrug anti-MAC therapy the ascites resolved completely, and the patient has survived for >21 months. Diagnosis and treatment of MAC-related chylous ascites are reviewed.