Pleural Effusions
Pleural effusions may be caused by many different disorders. A pleural effusion means the presence of fluid in the pleural space - i.e. between the chest wall and the lung surface. Small ones may cause no symptoms. Large ones cause pain and shortness of breath. In general they may be divided into two types, depending on the amount of protein they contain - if it's less than 30 grams per litre it's a transudate, if it's more it's an exudate. Transudates usually result from high venous pressure, such as occurs in heart failure, or from conditions where there is low protein in the blood, which can result from diseases such as hypothyroidism. They are usually bilateral.
Exudates are caused by fluid leaking from damaged capillaries. There is an underlying lung abnormality such as an infection. The treatment of a pleural effusion is to drain it if it is causing shortness of breath, and to treat the underlying cause.
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