title: [Ascites and pleural effusion. Study and follow-up of 79 patients].
abstract: We reviewed 79 patients with a picture of pleural effusion (EP) and ascites, who represented 8% of a total of 982 pleural effusions studied. Liver cirrhosis (CH), 37 cases (47%), disseminated carcinomatosis, 31 cases (39.5%), and congestive heart failure, 6 cases (7%), were the main causes. We made two groups of liver cirrhosis: A) liver cirrhosis with hydropic decompensation, 12 patients (15%), and B) liver cirrhosis with an additional complication added to the above, 25 patients (31.5%), this being infectious in 88% of the cases. In the B group there were cases of left hydrothorax, more features of effusion and a lower survival at 3 months of follow-up than in tha A group. Effusions of neoplastic origin were most frequently seen in tumors of the ovary, digestive system, lymphomas and undetermined origin. In malignant effusions, the cytology was positive in pleura in 60% and in ascites in 55%. Twenty percent of peritoneal fluids and 47% of pleural effusions were serohemorrhagic and 100% and 88%, respectively, were of exudative nature. In liver cirrhosis the ascites was serofibrinous and transudated (100% in group A and 85.5% in B) and the pleural effusion was a serofibrinous transudate except in the cases in which there was an added infection. We confirm the ominous prognosis of the coexistence of pleural effusion and ascites.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Montoya
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
vernacular_title: Ascitis y derrame pleural. Estudio y seguimiento de 79 enfermos.