Pleural effusion (transudate)
Causes include: (1)
- common
- cardiac failure:
- initially the fluid may be unilateral, often the right
- when bilateral the right effusion is usually larger than the left
- liver cirrhosis
- cardiac failure:
- less common
- nephrotic syndrome
- hypothyroidism
- peritoneal dialysis
- superior vena cava obstruction
- ascites
- constrictive pericarditis:
- pleural effusions are less significant than the ascites
- ovarian tumours:
- usually a right-sided pleural effusion (Meig's syndrome)
Reference:
- Roberts ME, Rahman NM, Maskell NA, et al. British Thoracic Society guideline for pleural disease. Thorax. 2023 Jul;78(suppl 3):s1-42.
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