Inside Collection (Textbook): Images of Memorable Cases: 50 Years at the Bedside
As a result of the chylomicron-rich blood within them, all retinal vessels in this disorder appear creamy white, salmon-pink, or yellow-gray. Consequently, arteries are distinguishable from veins only by their smaller caliber. This funduscopic appearance generally occurs only when the serum triglyceride concentration exceeds 4000 mg/dL. In this patient, the serum triglyceride level was 21,040 mg/dL, and the serum looked like cream (image above).