FREQUENCY OF CAUSATIVE FACTORS FOR PLEURAL EFFUSION: A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY

Causative Factors for Pleural Effusion

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of various causative factors of pleural effusion in adults. Study Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Study was done in the Combined Military Hospital attock and PAF Hospital Faisal Karachi from March 2006 to March 2008. Settings: Combined Military Hospital, Attock and PAF hospital Faisal Karachi. Patients and Methods: One hundred and fifty patients of clinical signs of pleural effusion, were selected and then, further classified in to transudative and exudative variety by carrying out pleural fluid routine testing and using Light’s criteria . Later the final etiological diagnosis was made with the help of appropriate laboratory tests. Results: Out of total 150 patients who were studied, 123 patients were found to have exudative effusions whereas 27 cases had transudative effusion. A total of five 5 patients (3.33%) were lost to follow up. Three patients were out of exudative variety and 02 were from transudative variety. Out of 120 patient of exudative pleural effusion, 70(58.2%) had tuberculosis, 28(23.2%) had malignancy, 12(10%) had pneumonia, 5(6%) were uraemic, 2(1.6%) had pulmonary embolism, and rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic lupus erythematosis and liver abscess were causative factors in 1(0.8%) each patient. Out of transudative effusions, 14(56%) had congestive cardiac failure, 5(20%) had cirrhosis liver, 4(16%) had nephrotic syndrome and 1(4%) each had cardiac tamponade and myxoedema.

Conclusion: The most common cause of pleural effusion remains tuberculosis.