L6: Transudative vs Exudative Flashcards
Does pulmonary embolism cause transudative or exudative effusion?
Can cause EITHER transudative or exudative effusion
most common causes of transudative pleural effusion
CHF
cirrhosis
nephrotic syndrome
most common causes of exudative pleural effusion
1st: Parapneumonic effusion
2nd: Malignancy
Autoimmune: lupus, rheumatoid arthritis
Hemothorax
Chylous effusion
Parapneumonic effusion
secondary to bacterial pneumonia, lung abscess, bronchiectasis
Malignancies most likely to cause exudative pleural effusion
lung/breast cancer, lymphoma
Hemothorax
pleural fluid has RBCs>100,000 cells/uL serousanginous appearance due to trauma, malignancy, pulmonary embolism
Chylous effusion
thoracic lymphatic duct disruption/impairment due to trauma, malignancy with lymphoma → cloudy milky effusion with triglycerides and lipids
Chylous effusion can occur in 2 sites
pleural fluid
peritoneal fluid
Light’s Criteria Rule for exudative pleural effusion
- Pleural fluid protein/serum protein ratio >.5
- Pleural fluid LDH/serum LDH ratio >.6
- Pleural fluid LDH > 2/3rds of upper limits of laboratory’s normal serum LDH
Any 1 of these three criteria: exudative
Transudative vs exudative pleural effusion: Total protein levels
Transudative: <3 g/dl
Exudative: > 3g/dl
Transudative vs exudative pleural effusion: protein fluid/protein serum ratio
Transudative: .5
Transudative vs exudative pleural effusion: Color
Transudative: clear, thin fluid
Exudative: cloudy, thick, viscous
Transudative vs exudative pleural effusion: WBC
Transudative: <300 cell/uL
Exudative: >500 cells/uL
Transudative vs exudative pleural effusion: LDH fluid/LDH serum ratio
Transudative: .6
Transudative vs exudative pleural effusion: fluid glucose vs serum glucose
Transudative: fluid glucose=serum glucose
Exudative: fluid glucose < serum glucose, or <60 mg/dl
Transudative vs exudative pleural effusion: pH
Transudative: 7.4-7.5
Exudative: 7.3-7.4
Transudative vs exudative pleural effusion: fluid amylase vs serum amylase
Transudative: fluid amylase=serum amylase
Exudative: fluid amylase > serum amylase
Peritoneal fluid aka
ascites
Causes of ascites
Portal hypertension: Hepatic cirrhosis (most cases), alcoholic hepatitis, acute liver failure
Malignancy (10%): most commonly ovarian
Heart failure, TB or fungal infection, hemodialysis-associated, pancreatic disease, nephrotic syndrome, severe malnutrition, myxedema (due to hypothyroidism)
severe hypothyroidism can cause
myxedema (severe edema)
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
Occurs in patients with cirrhosis+ascites
Infection likely originates in bowel→ abrupt onset of fevers, chills, abdominal pain, rebound tenderness
Exudative effusion
High mortality: important to recognize, treat
Transudative vs exudative peritoneal fluid:
Total protein levels
Transudative: <3g/dl
Exudative: >3g/dl
Transudative vs exudative peritoneal fluid:
Protein fluid/protein serum ratio
Transudative: .5
Transudative vs exudative peritoneal fluid:
Color
Transudative: thin, clear
Exudative: cloudy, thick, viscous
Transudative vs exudative peritoneal fluid:
WBC
Transudative: <300 cells/uL
Exudative: >500 cells/uL
Transudative vs exudative peritoneal fluid:
LDH fluid/LDH serum ratio
Transudative: .6
Transudative vs exudative peritoneal fluid:
Glucose
Transudative: fluid glucose=serum glucose
Exudative: fluid glucose < serum glucose, or <60 mg/dl
Transudative vs exudative peritoneal fluid:
Serum:ascitic fluid albumin gradient
Transudative: >1.1 g/dL
Exudative: <1.1 g/dL
SAAG=
Serum:ascitic fluid albumin gradient
Causes of pericardial effusion
Acute pericarditis (viral, bacterial, TB, idiopathic)
autoimmune disease
post-MI
post cardiac surgery
sharp/blunt chest trauma,
cardiac diagnostics/interventional procedures
malignancy (esp. metastatic)
mediastinal radiation
renal failure
myxedema
aortic dissection extending into the pericardium
How to tell if pericardial effusion is transudative or exudative
Protein, LDH, glucose, RBC, WBC do not reliably differentiate an exudate from a transudate
Rapid/acute pericardial effusion
small effusions 200-300 ml
Chronic pericardial effusion
larger effusions, >300 ml or so