Acute starvation ketoacidosis in pregnancy with severe hypertriglyceridemia

RATIONALE: Pregnant women are more prone to ketosis due to the relative insulin resistance, accelerated lipolysis and increased free fatty acids. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a pregnant woman with hyperlipidemia, who experienced severe metabolic acidosis after a short period of starvation. DIAGNOSES: Based on her clinical symptoms, exclusion diagnosis and therapeutic diagnosis, her condition was diagnosed as starvation ketoacidosis. INTERVENTIONS: An emergency caesarean section under general anesthesia was implemented 2 hours after her admission. The metabolic acidosis was treated with fluid resuscitation using compound sodium lactate, bicarbonate, and 5% dextrose together with insulin 6U. OUTCOMES: Both mother and baby were discharged clinically well. LESSONS: Starvation ketoacidosis may happen in special patient who was in pregnancy and with severe hypertriglyceridemia, after just one day fasting and vomiting.