transudate

Last reviewed 01/2018

A transudate is a fluid emanating from the intravascular compartment due to an imbalance of the hydrostatic forces across the walls of the microcirculation. The process of its formation is ultrafiltration, as occurs at the kidney glomeruli, and there is no change in the permeability of the vascular endothelium.

Clinically, it has a low protein content and a specific gravity of less than 1.012.

It should be compared with an exudate.