scholarly journals Diffuse pleural thickening following heart failure-related pleural effusions in an asbestos exposed patient

Author(s):  
Matthew Evison ◽  
Philip Barber
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Wang ◽  
Zishuang Liu ◽  
Ting Wang ◽  
Yang Bai ◽  
Man Wang

Abstract Background: By comparing the different ultrasonographic manifestations in exudate and transudate, we intend to explore the value of ultrasound in auxiliary diagnosis of pleural effusion.Methods: The ultrasonic image features, including echo, separation, light spot, pleural thickness, of 275 exudative pleural effusion (EPE) cases and 307 transudate pleural effusion (TPE) cases confirmed by laboratory examination were retrospectively analyzed.Results: In 275 cases of EPE, the main primary diseases were pneumonia and tuberculous exudative pleurisy, the majority was unilateral (214 cases, 77.8%). Ultrasound showed 47.6% cases had septum, 58.5% cases had echo and those pleural thickness more than 3mm cases accounted for 39.6%. By contrast, in 307 patients with TPE, the major diseases were heart failure, cirrhosis and nephrotic syndrome. Most of the pleural effusions were bilateral, accounting for 97.1%. Ultrasound displayed echo in 3 cases (1.0%), separation in 8 cases (2.6%), light spot in 9 cases (2.9%), and pleural thickening (> 3mm) in 6 cases (2.0%). These positive findings in TPE were statistically less than its counterpart (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Ultrasound is valuable for auxiliary diagnosis of pleural effusion. Some sonographic features of pleural effusion, like echo, septum and pleural thickening, may indicate a high possibility of EPE.


2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan E Miles ◽  
Alessandra Sandrini ◽  
Anthony R Johnson ◽  
Deborah H Yates

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Zaga ◽  
D. Makris ◽  
I. Tsilioni ◽  
T. Kiropoulos ◽  
S. Oikonomidi ◽  
...  

Background and Aim. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a component of extracellular matrix and may play a role in the pleural inflammation which is implicated in parapneumonic effusions.The aim of the current study was to investigate HA levels in serum and pleura in patients with parapneumonic effusions. Methods. We prospectively studied pleural and serum levels of HA in 58 patients with pleural effusions due to infection (complicated and uncomplicated parapneumonic effusions), malignant effusions and transudative effusions due to congestive heart failure. In addition to HA, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were determined in pleural fluid and serum by ELISA. Results. The median±SD HA levels (pg/ml) in pleural fluid of patients with complicated effusions (39.058±11.208) were significantly increased (p&lt;0.005), compared to those with uncomplicated parapneumonic effusions (11.230±1.969), malignant effusions (10.837±4.803) or congestive heart failure (5.392±3.133). There was no correlation between pleural fluid and serum HA values. Pleural fluid TNF-α levels (146±127 pg/mL) and IL-1β levels (133.4±156 pg/mL) were significantly higher in patients with complicated parapneumonic effusions compared to patients with other types of effusion (p&lt;0.05). No significant association between HA and TNF-α or IL-1β was found. Conclusions. HA may play a significant role in the inflammatory process which characterises exudative infectious pleuritis. Further investigation might reveal whether HA is a useful marker in the management of parapneumonic effusions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Adam Dallmann ◽  
Richard L. Attanoos

Yellow nail syndrome is a rare acquired condition of unknown aetiology associated with distinct nail discolouration/xanthonychia, pulmonary manifestations, and lymphoedema. Pleural plaques and diffuse pleural thickening are typically, although not exclusively, recognised as markers of prior commercial asbestos exposure. The presence of such biomarkers may assist an asbestos personal injury evaluation. A postmortem examination performed on a 72-year-old man with known long-standing yellow nail syndrome identified pleural plaques and diffuse pleural thickening. An evaluation of the occupational history identified no known asbestos exposure. Electron microscopic mineral fibre analysis detected no asbestos fibres. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only case of yellow nail syndrome in which these benign pleural changes are reported ex asbestos. Alternate causes for such pleural pathology were absent. There is merit in physicians and pathologists having an awareness of these new manifestations when considering claimed asbestos related changes during life and at postmortem.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 49-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Luis Morales-Rull ◽  
Silvia Bielsa ◽  
Alicia Conde-Martel ◽  
Oscar Aramburu-Bodas ◽  
Pau Llàcer ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Paul Cullinan ◽  
Joanna Szram

Some occupational lung diseases are defined by their clinical or pathological nature (e.g. occupational asthma or mesothelioma), while others are defined by their specific etiology (e.g. silicosis, farmer’s lung). Most fall into one of three categories. The first is airways disease, including occupational asthma (induced by a workplace agent), work-exacerbated asthma (preexisting asthma provoked by one or more agents at work), and irritant-induced asthma (initiated by a single, toxic exposure to a respiratory irritant); COPD and obliterative bronchiolitis may arise from workplace exposures, and around 10% of lung cancers have an occupational etiology. The second is parenchymal diseases, incorporating the many types of pneumoconiosis, differentiated by the dust that caused them, and the many types of extrinsic allergic alveolitis (or hypersensitivity pneumonia) categorized by the occupations in which they arise. The third is pleural diseases comprising pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening, and mesothelioma.


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