[Hydrothorax in absence of ascites: an unusual complication of hepatic cirrhosis with portal hypertension].
OBJECTIVE
Authors, describing a clinical case of hepatic hydrothorax in absence of ascites, analyse the disease physiopathology and their therapeutic options.


METHODS
Case report of a mixed aethiology (HCV and alcohol) hepatic cirrhosis, with pleural effusion, without ascites.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatic hydrothorax without ascites is an uncommon complication of cirrhosis with portal hypertension. Treatment could be pharmacological, with diuretics administration, or operating. A simple and cheap method is thoracentesis. If hydrothorax relapses, most effective method is transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.
Rombolà
F
F
Dipartimento di Medicina, Struttura Complessa di Malattie Infettive e Malattie del Fegato, Ospedale di Vibo Valentia. rombolaf@libero.it
Spinoso
A
A
Ranieri
F S
FS
Bertuccio
A
A
Del Giudice
A C
AC
Bertuccio
S N
SN
D006801:Humans; D006876:Hydrothorax / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019152:Paracentesis; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic; D011677:Punctures; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome