Clear ultrafiltrate of plasma that originates from the parietal pleura - pH - Protein content less than 2% (1-2 g/dL) - Fewer than 1000 WBCs per cubic millimeter - Glucose content similar to that of plasma - Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) less than 50% of plasma 2. Most common cause - Left heart failure - Pneumonia - Malignancy - Pulmonary embolism - Viral disease Add: Tuberculosis, empyema 3. Case a. Left heart failure - Clear/serous/light yellow - Nucleated cells 50k, neutrophilia - Glucose 1000 IU/L in empyema - pH10% . | Pleural effusion - laboratories in common cause 1. Normal - Clear ultrafiltrate of plasma that originates from the parietal pleura - pH - Protein content less than 2 1-2 g dL - Fewer than 1000 WBCs per cubic millimeter - Glucose content similar to that of plasma - Lactate dehydrogenase LDH less than 50 of plasma 2. Most common cause - Left heart failure - Pneumonia - Malignancy - Pulmonary embolism - Viral disease Add Tuberculosis empyema 3. Case a. Left heart failure - Clear serous light yellow - Nucleated cells 5k - Protein less than 2 - Serum LDH ratio 0 6 or Pleural fluid LDH 0 67 of upper limit of normal for serum LDH - Glucose content similar to that of plasma. b. Pneumonia Empyema - Purulent turbid brown - Nucleated cells 50k neutrophilia - Glucose 60mg dL - LDH 1000 IU L in empyema - pH 7 .
