elevated amylase in pleural effusion suggests esophageal rupture or pancreatitis

• related: pleural effusion
• tags: #permanent #pulmonology

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• elevated amylase in pleural effusion can be from esophageal rupture or pancreatitis
• Lipase is more specific for pancreatitis

Links to this note

• pleural effusion

  • elevated amylase in pleural effusion suggests esophageal rupture or pancreatitis

• transudative vs exudative pleural fluid causes

  • Transudative fluid are normally caused by increased hydrostatic or decreased oncotic pressure. This usually happens in heart failure, cirrhosis, or nephrotic syndrome. Exudative fluid are caused by inflammation of the pleural surface and can be caused by infection (simple effusion, uncomplicated, complicated parapneumonic effusion, empyema), TB (pleural effusion in TB are exudative, lymphocyte predominant, have low glucose, and elevated adenosine deaminase), pancreatitis (elevated amylase in pleural effusion suggests esophageal rupture or pancreatitis), PE, or connective tissue disease (pleural fluid with very high LDH and low glucose are found in either empyema or rheumatoid pleurisy).