transudative vs exudative pleural fluid causes
- related: pleural effusion, light criteria for pleural effusion includes protein and LDH
- tags: #permanent
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).
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- pleural effusion
- simple effusion, uncomplicated, complicated parapneumonic effusion, empyema
- Uncomplicated parapneumonic effusion is the same as simple effusion in setting of pneumonia. Pleural fluid usually have increased WBC > 1,000/mm3 but are exudative (transudative vs exudative pleural fluid causes). On imaging, pleural fluid is usually small and free flowing.