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February 1976, Vol 136, No. 2 >
ARTICLE | February 1976

Characteristics of Pleural Effusions Associated With Pulmonary Embolism

Lincoln J. Bynum, MD; James E. Wilson, MD
Arch Intern Med. 1976;136(2):159-162. doi:10.1001/archinte.1976.03630020019005.
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Pleural fluid characteristics were analyzed in 26 patients with pulmonary embolism. All determinations were highly variable. A bloody effusion occurred in 65%, while clear fluid was found in 35%. White blood cell counts had a wide distribution of values; polymorphonuclear leukocytes predominated in 61% and lymphocytes in 39%. Less than two thirds of tested specimens were exudates by standard criteria. Only 27% of effusions had the "typical" pattern of bloody appearance, polymorphonuclear predominance, and characteristics of an exudate. Roentgenographically evident infiltrates occurred in 62% and were correlated with bloody pleural fluid (P <.01), which suggests that infarction is not necessary for effusions to occur, but may account for a bloody appearance. The variability of these results indicates that there are no typical or diagnostic pleural fluid findings in pulmonary embolism.

(Arch Intern Med 136:159-162, 1976)

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