pleural effusion (transudate)
Last reviewed 01/2018
Causes include:
- common
- cardiac failure:
- initially the fluid may be unilateral, often the right
- when bilateral the right effusion is usually larger than the left
- liver cirrhosis
- less common
- nephrotic syndrome
- hypothyroidism
- peritoneal dialysis
- superior vena cava obstruction
- ascites
- constrictive pericarditis:
- pleural effusions are less significant than the ascites
- ovarian tumours:
- usually a right-sided pleural effusion (Meig's syndrome)
Reference: