Source: International Congress 2015 – Acute and chronic lung diseases: good clinical practice

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Chylothorax is defined by the presence of chyle in the pleural space. Transudative chylothorax has been reported between %15 - %32 of all chylothorax cases. In this report, we present a case of transudative chylothorax possibly developed from pulmonary hypertension due to cardiac valvular insufficiency and right heart failure.CASE PRESENTATION: A seventy years old, female patient admitted to our hospital with symptoms of dyspnea, right-sided chest pain for last 6 months. On chest radiography, pleural effusion covering nearly half of the right hemithorax was observed.



Closed chest tube drainage was performed for relieving excessive pleural effusion. Since the color of pleural effusion appeared to be milky, pleural effusion was evaluated biochemically for chylothorax. Triglyceride level was found three fold higher than normal, but pleural effusion was transudative.DISCUSSION: Chylothorax does not always meet the exudative criteria. Transudative form has been reported between %15-32 in several studies due to various pathologies. Since now, only two cases of transudative chylothorax due to pulmonary hypertension secondary to right heart failure have been reported. The possible mechanism for transudative chylothorax is poorly understood. Although very rare, evaluation of transudative pleural effusion for chylothorax should be considered in any patient with pulmonary hypertension with pleural effusion in clinical practice.


Rating:

Share or cite this content

Citations should be made in the following way:
Sedat Kuleci (Adana, Turkey), Sedat Kuleci, Oya Baydar, Efraim Güzel, Ismail Hanta. Transudative chylothorax in a patient with pulmonary hypertension. Eur Respir J 2015; 46: Suppl. 59, 3677

Member's Comments

No comment yet.

Related content which might interest you: Pulmonary hypertension in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Source: Eur Respir Mon 2012; 57: 148-160 Year: 2012 The incidence of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in asympthomatic pulmonary embolism patients Source: International Congress 2014 – Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension Year: 2014 Pulmonary hypertension complicating fibrosing mediastinitis Source: International Congress 2016 – Clinic of pulmonary hypertension Year: 2016 Pulmonary hypertension Source: International Congress 2016 – ERS publications: a focus on recent guidelines and task forces Year: 2016 Pulmonary hypertension Source: Eur Respir Monogr 2016; 71: 160-174 Year: 2016 Pulmonary hypertension Source: ERS Skills Course 2017 - Summer school of adult respiratory medicine Year: 2017 Pulmonary hypertension Source: Eur Respir Rev 2015; 25: 4-11 Year: 2016 Pulmonary hypertension Source: Eur Respir Monogr 2015; 70: 158-170 Year: 2015 Pulmonary hypertension Source: Course 2015 - Clinical exercise testing Year: 2015 Pulmonary hypertension in obesity-hypoventilation-syndrome Source: Annual Congress 2011 - Pulmonary hypertension in hypoxic lung disease Year: 2011 Pulmonary hypertension Source: International Congress 2017 – State of the art session: "Interstitial lung disease and pulmonary vascular diseases" Year: 2017 Pulmonary hypertension Source: Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 45: 9–24 Year: 2009 Pulmonary hypertension Source: ERS Course 2018 - Summer school of adult respiratory medicine Year: 2018 Pulmonary hypertension Source: International Congress 2015 – Interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism and sleep apnoea Year: 2015 Pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, vasculitis Source: ERS Course 2019 - Summer school of adult respiratory medicine Year: 2019 Pulmonary hypertension in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Source: Annual Congress 2010 - Clinical aspects in pulmonary fibrosis Year: 2010 Pulmonary hypertension associated with sarcoidosis Source: Eur Respir Mon 2012; 57: 166-181 Year: 2012 Sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension Source: Eur Respir Monogr 2022; 96: 234-255 Year: 2022 Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease misdiagnosed as idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension Source: Eur Respir Rev 2009; 18: 177-180 Year: 2009