[Measuring pH in pleural fluid is valuable when identifying the cause of purulent pleural effusion].
A 79 year-old woman with disseminated ovarian cancer and recurring pleural effusions, had thoracocentesis performed with drainage of purulent pleural fluid (plf) after preceding symptoms of pneumonia. Pleural empyema was suspected. However, a plf-pH-measurement of 7.3 made this diagnose less likely. A subsequent analysis of plf revealed an elevated plf-triglyceride concentration, thus confirming chylothorax. In order to distinguish between pleural empyema and chylothorax plf-pH should be considered as a routine analysis in patients with underlying malignancy and drainage of purulent pleural fluid.
Lungemedicinsk Afdeling J, Odense Universitetshospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, Odense C. jrd@dadlnet.dk
Jesper Rømhild
JR
Davidsen
Christian Borbjerg
CB
Laursen
Poul Henning
PH
Madsen
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014280:Triglycerides