A 63-year-old man with a history of asthma presents with fever (38.5°C), pleuritic chest pain, and dyspnea. Vital signs show BP 128/82 mmHg, HR 102/min, RR 22/min, and SpO2 92% on room air. Chest X-ray reveals a left pleural effusion following bacterial pneumonia. Thoracentesis fluid shows protein ratio 0.7 and LDH ratio 0.8. Pleural fluid cultures remain negative. Which classification best describes this effusion?
- A)Pseudochylous effusion from rheumatoid pleuritis
- B)Transudative effusion due to increased hydrostatic pressure
- C)Exudative effusion due to pleural inflammationGABARITO
- D)Chylous effusion due to thoracic duct injury
- E)Hemothorax due to trauma
Explicação
By Light criteria, pleural fluid is exudative if the protein ratio is greater than 0.5 or the LDH ratio is greater than 0.6. Pneumonia commonly causes exudative parapneumonic effusions because inflammation increases vascular permeability. The pleuritic pain an... Ver explicação completa e trilha adaptativa →