Pleural effusion with rheumatoid arthritis.
Pleural effusions complicating rheumatoid arthritis occur most commonly in middle-aged men. The majority of these individuals will be symptomatic with pleuritic chest pain and/or dyspnea. Rheumatoid pleural effusions have distinct chemical characteristics including elevated LDH, low glucose and low pH. The finding of a rheumatoid nodule on pleural biopsy, is pathognomonic of a rheumatoid associated pleural effusion. Treatment of this spectrum of the disease is aimed at preventing progressive pleural fibrosis.
Stanek
K A
KA
Department of Internal Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, USD School of Medicine, Sioux Falls.
Mills
K A
KA
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology