[A case of post-traumatic bilateral eosinophilic pleural effusion].
A 58-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with chest pain caused by chest trauma. After admission, his chest pain decreased and he was discharged. Later, he was admitted again with a high fever and dyspnea. Laboratory findings on second admission showed a leukocyte count of 7,900/microliter (9% eosinophils) and a C-reactive protein of 17.0 mg/dl. Chest radiography and chest CT scanning on second admission showed moderate bilateral pleural effusion. Close examination showed an increase of eosinophils in the pleural effusion (14% of total cell counts on the right and 27% of total cell counts on the left) that was exudate. Post-traumatic bilateral eosinophilic pleural effusion was diagnosed. The patient was treated with antibiotic therapy and his condition improved. A chest CT scan afterwards showed improvement of the bilateral pleural effusion. The eosinophil count in the peripheral blood was 1% at chest trauma, 15% in the hospital to the max and decreased to 3% with the decrease of pleural effusion. Post-traumatic eosinophilic pleural effusion may be accompanied with inflammatory findings, and the mechanism is guessed by immunological reaction.
Yoshimoto
Akihiro
A
Department of Internal Medicine, Toyama City Hospital, Imaizumihokubucho 2-1, Toyama, 939-8511, Japan.
Fujimura
Masaki
M
Nakamura
Hiroyuki
H
Nakao
Shinji
S
D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications*