A case of recurrent pleural effusion: Can we think beyond tuberculosis and malignancy?
Pleural effusion can occur due to a variety of causes such as infectious, neoplastic, inflammatory, autoimmune, traumatic, etc. Recurrent pleural effusions have always been a diagnostic challenge. Here, we present a case of recurrent exudative pleural effusion in a male patient, which was the first...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mjdrdypu.org/article.asp?issn=0975-2870;year=2014;volume=7;issue=2;spage=215;epage=217;aulast=Vaishnav |
| _version_ | 1811218966095331328 |
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| author | Bhumika Vaishnav |
| author_facet | Bhumika Vaishnav |
| author_sort | Bhumika Vaishnav |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pleural effusion can occur due to a variety of causes such as infectious, neoplastic, inflammatory, autoimmune, traumatic, etc. Recurrent pleural effusions have always been a diagnostic challenge. Here, we present a case of recurrent exudative pleural effusion in a male patient, which was the first clinical manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis. Of note was the absence of articular involvement at the onset of the disease. The low glucose concentration, low pH and low C4 level in the pleural fluid were the most valuable findings to distinguish it from tuberculous and malignant pleural effusions. Pleural biopsy also helped in making such a distinction. Thus, in a patient with recurrent pleural effusion, rheumatoid etiology should also be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:17:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f1a874827504e949c75e606342b52d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0975-2870 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:17:55Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f1a874827504e949c75e606342b52d52022-12-22T03:42:23ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsMedical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University0975-28702014-01-017221521710.4103/0975-2870.126351A case of recurrent pleural effusion: Can we think beyond tuberculosis and malignancy?Bhumika VaishnavPleural effusion can occur due to a variety of causes such as infectious, neoplastic, inflammatory, autoimmune, traumatic, etc. Recurrent pleural effusions have always been a diagnostic challenge. Here, we present a case of recurrent exudative pleural effusion in a male patient, which was the first clinical manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis. Of note was the absence of articular involvement at the onset of the disease. The low glucose concentration, low pH and low C4 level in the pleural fluid were the most valuable findings to distinguish it from tuberculous and malignant pleural effusions. Pleural biopsy also helped in making such a distinction. Thus, in a patient with recurrent pleural effusion, rheumatoid etiology should also be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis.http://www.mjdrdypu.org/article.asp?issn=0975-2870;year=2014;volume=7;issue=2;spage=215;epage=217;aulast=VaishnavAnticyclic citrullinated polypeptide antibodyextraarticular diseasepleural effusionrheumatoid arthritis |
| spellingShingle | Bhumika Vaishnav A case of recurrent pleural effusion: Can we think beyond tuberculosis and malignancy? Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University Anticyclic citrullinated polypeptide antibody extraarticular disease pleural effusion rheumatoid arthritis |
| title | A case of recurrent pleural effusion: Can we think beyond tuberculosis and malignancy? |
| title_full | A case of recurrent pleural effusion: Can we think beyond tuberculosis and malignancy? |
| title_fullStr | A case of recurrent pleural effusion: Can we think beyond tuberculosis and malignancy? |
| title_full_unstemmed | A case of recurrent pleural effusion: Can we think beyond tuberculosis and malignancy? |
| title_short | A case of recurrent pleural effusion: Can we think beyond tuberculosis and malignancy? |
| title_sort | case of recurrent pleural effusion can we think beyond tuberculosis and malignancy |
| topic | Anticyclic citrullinated polypeptide antibody extraarticular disease pleural effusion rheumatoid arthritis |
| url | http://www.mjdrdypu.org/article.asp?issn=0975-2870;year=2014;volume=7;issue=2;spage=215;epage=217;aulast=Vaishnav |
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