Chylothorax in a patient with AIDS and Kaposi's sarcoma.

We have described the case of a patient with AIDS in whom a chylothorax developed, probably as a result of lymphatic obstruction from KS. This case emphasizes that the loss of proteins, fats, and lymphocytes into chylous pleural effusions can be particularly devastating in AIDS patients, who have profound nutritional problems and a marked depletion in the level of helper T-lymphocytes.