Fifteen patients with untreated decomensated cirrhosis of the liver and 10 controls were subjected to lipid loading with a 10-percent emulsion of long-chain fatty acid triglycerides. During the test, serum levels of the different lipid fractions were studied. Clearance of the injected triglycerides takes place the more rapidly the more severe the cirrhosis is. This acceleration of clearance is due to malnutrition and the increase in lipoprotein lipase, which cannot be broken down physiologically by the cirrhotic liver. Alternatively, the rapid clearance may be explained by dilution of the lipids by ascitic fluid in the more severe cases of cirrhosis.