The fat overload syndrome. Report of a case and literature review.

A 10-month-old infant with hypoplasia of the intestinal mucosa had the fat overload syndrome develop while receiving intravenous fat emulsion at a dosage of 5 g/kg/day of fat for five weeks. This syndrome was characterized by fever, jaundice, easy bruisability, increased levels of serum transaminases, conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, and abnormal results of clotting studies. Management consisted of withdrawal of parenteral nutrition for 72 hours, followed by gradual reinstitution of protein and subsequent introduction of fat at a lower dosage.