[Paragonimiasis Westermani associated with pseudochylothorax].

A 67-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of right pleural effusion. She had eaten boiled crab, Eriocheir japonicus, raw crab of an unknown species, and broiled wild boar several years ago. The punctured pleural fluid was characterized by an exudative nature, milky-white color, and high cholesterol concentration, indicating pseudochylothorax. High titers of anti-Paragonimus westermani antibody in the pleural fluid and serum, assessed by microplate ELISA, established the diagnosis of Paragonimiasis Westermani. Treatment with praziquantel at 75 mg/kg for 3 days, for 2 repeated courses, ameliorated the pleural effusion and decreased the antibody titers. An exhaustive search of the literature failed to find a similar case of pseudochylothorax associated with P. westermani.