Lipid emulsion-induced hypertension post resection of pediatric neuroblastoma: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Parenteral Nutrition (PN) is preferred when patient is unable to eat. Most clinically widely used lipid emulsion is now attracting more attention in its stability and adverse reactions. We report here the first case of lipid emulsions caused hypertension. CASE PRESENTATION: A 1.5 years old girl was diagnosed with neuroblastoma and underwent chemotherapy subsequently followed by resection surgery. She received PN for nutritional support after surgery. with the initiation of PN, this patient developed hypertension. Possible causes of hypertension were evaluated. After the discontinuation of lipid emulsions in PN, her hypertensive symptoms ceased. The lipid emulsion was therefore considered as the cause of her hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The pathogenesis of hypertension caused by fatty milk is possibly associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species, increased oxidative stress and vasoconstriction.