Rheumatoid pleural effusion: response to intrapleural corticosteroid.

The management of a patient with a large symptomatic rheumatoid pleural effusion is described. Thoracentesis and bed rest gave only short term modest benefit. A more lasting and beneficial response was obtained with an intrapleural injection of (120 mg) depomethylprednisolone acetate. This treatment is a useful interim measure until disease suppressive therapy gives systemic control.     

Plasmocytic pleural effusion disclosing multiple myeloma

Pleural effusion caused by plasma cell involvement in multiple myeloma has been reported unfrequently, and has been described at a frequency below 1% of multiple myeloma. In this study, we report an observation with pleural effusion as first symptom of multiple myeloma. The analysis of the pleural liquid showed plasma cells with a monoclonal IgG Kappa immunoglobulin. In addition, there was a bone marrow infiltration by plasma cells, a serum monoclonal immuno-globulin of the same type and osteolytic lesions. Our patient has received one course of chemotherapy with: vincristine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide and prednisone. The patient did not respond to the therapy and died one month later. Pleural effusion seems to be an expression of aggressive myeloma. Survival exceeds rarely 4 months.     

Lupus refractory pleural effusion: transient response to intravenous immunoglobulins.

A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by refractory bilateral pleural effusions is described. High dose corticosteroids with azathioprine, as well as intrapleural instillation of corticosteroids, proved ineffective in management. As our patient remained severely symptomatic and required repeated thoracocentesis, a therapeutic trial of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) was attempted. IVIG had a beneficial effect, although of a transient and partial nature. Despite the results achieved, it seems that IVIG has limited value in treating lupus pleural effusion.     

Response of the extramedullary lung plasmacytoma with pleural effusion to chemotherapy

 An elderly patient with an extramedullary lung plasmacytoma and subsequent pleural effusion is described. The presence of abnormal plasma cells in the pleural fluid led to diagnosis. Histologically similar conditions such as multiple myeloma and solitary myeloma of bone were ruled out by clinical evaluation. These neoplasms usually occur in the head and neck area and are not characterized by paraprotein accumulation. Few cases in the lung have been reported. We describe a case of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the lung with plasmacytoma-induced pleural effusion and the presence of monoclonal paraprotein in both the serum and urine. Chemotherapy with melphalan was effective in reducing the size of the plasmacytoma, and pleurodesis was used to manage the pleural effusion. Received: 16 December 1996 / Accepted: 16 April 1997     

Rheumatoid pleural effusion: lack of response to intrapleural corticosteroid

Two cases of rheumatoid arthritis with large persistent, asymptomatic pleural effusions are presented. Repeated thoracentesis and intrapleural instillation of corticosteroid proved ineffective in management. However, the persistence of the effusion did not result in any respiratory complications. In one case the effusion disappeared spontaneously long after articular disease remitted, and in neither case did the size of the effusion parallel articular disease activity. It would appear that treatment directed solely at elimination of large rheumatoid pleural effusions is both unrewarding and unnecessary, as long as the underlying lung is normal.     

闭式胸膜活检加胸膜刷检在胸腔积液中的诊断价值

目的探讨闭式胸腔穿刺胸膜活检同时胸膜刷检在渗出性胸腔积液中的诊断价值。方法对87例渗出性胸腔积液患者,同时行闭式胸膜活检术与胸膜刷检术。结果 87例患者,胸膜活检113次,成功率92.9%(105/113),病因诊断阳性率为70.1%(61/87)。胸膜刷检112次,成功率73.2%(82/112),病因诊断阳性率为60.0%(52/87)。胸膜活检病因诊断阳性率虽高于胸膜刷检,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。有11例患者胸膜活检病因诊断阴性,胸膜刷检阳性;有20例患者胸膜刷检病因诊断阴性,但胸膜活检阳性。胸膜活检同时胸膜刷检,病因诊断阳性率提高至82.8%(72/87),高于单独胸膜活检及单独胸膜刷检(均P0.05)。87例患者胸膜检查时发生胸膜反应3例(2.7%),气胸4例(3.5%)。结论经皮胸膜活检与胸膜刷检均是渗出性胸腔积液病因诊断的重要手段,相对安全。胸膜活检同时胸膜刷检有更高的病因诊断阳性率,在渗出性胸腔积液的临床诊断中具有重要价值。     

全身化疗腔内免疫序贯治疗肺癌合并胸腔积液临床研究

目的研究全身化疗腔内免疫序贯治疗肺癌胸腔积液的临床疗效及免疫指标变化。方法将45例肺癌合并胸腔积液息者随机分两组治疗,两组均予以GP方案化疗2个周期,化疗第15天尽量排净胸水。治疗组并胸腔内注射白介素-2,连续4次;对照组仅间断放胸水。观察两组治疗前后胸水中树突状细胞数量及治疗后胸水缓解率。结果治疗组临床有效率、胸水中树突状细胞数量均明显高于对照组（P〈0．01）。结论全身化疗腔内免疫序贯治疗肺癌合并胸腔积液可增加患者免疫功能,提高临床疗效。     

Pleural amyloidosis in a patient with intractable pleural effusion and multiple myeloma

Pleural involvement of systemic amyloidosis has been rarely reported. We report a case with multiple myeloma presenting an intractable right pleural effusion, in which pleural amyloidosis was diagnosed through pleural biopsy using a Cope needle. The diagnosis of pleural amyloidosis is important, because its refractory pleural effusion should be treated with pleurodesis. Since closed pleural biopsy using a Cope needle is much less invasive than thoracoscopy, the former should be attempted first whenever pleural amyloidosis is suspected.     

Multiple myeloma with myelomatous pleural effusion: a case report and review of the literature

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant neoplasm of plasma cell origin. Pleural effusion may develop in the setting of MM due to various reasons, but myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE) is rare. We report a case of MPE in a patient with advanced MM. A 76-year-old woman with MM was admitted to hospital because of dyspnea. Chest X-ray showed right-sided pleural effusion. Protein electrophoresis of the pleural fluid showed monoclonal protein, and cytology demonstrated monoclonal plasma cells. Hospice care was implemented, and the patient died one month later. We present an analysis of the clinical characteristics of 57 MPE cases reported in the English literature. Our review revealed that MPE patients had poor overall survival irrespective of whether MPE develops in the course of their disease or presents as the initial manifestation of MM. Based on this analysis, MPE is a poor prognostic factor, and aggressive treatment should be considered, especially for patients with early-onset MPE.     

Contralateral pleural effusion during chemotherapy for tuberculous pleurisy

A 46-year-old woman developed a right pleural effusion 8 weeks after standard chemotherapy for tuberculous pleurisy on the left side had been started. Pleural biospy demonstrated caseous granulomatous changes. The patient improved following continuation of the same treatment.     

Clinical experience with short-course chemotherapy in patients with tubercular pleural effusion and lymphadenitis

Twenty-one patients with pleural effusion and 27 patients with lymphadenitis, both tubercular in origin, were administered isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol in a daily single dose for 9 months. 100% response was seen in patients with pleural effusion. In the case of tuberculous lymphadenitis the therapeutic response was unsatisfactory, and complete resolution of lymph nodes was achieved in 16 out of 27 patients only (59%). Drug treatment had to be extended for another 3 months which gave 89% response. In view of our present findings, short-course chemotherapy appears not to be the ideal mode of treatment for tuberculous lymphadenitis. There were no side effects from drug therapy in either group of patients.     

艾迪注射液胸腔内注射治疗恶性胸腔积液52例

目的观察艾迪注射液胸腔内注射治疗恶性胸腔积液的疗效。方法将52例恶性胸腔积液患者随机分为两组,艾迪治疗组和顺铂（DDP）对照组,艾迪治疗组每周一次胸腔内注射,对照组采用顺铂胸腔内注射,每周一次,2～4周为一疗程。结果艾迪治疗组治疗胸水总有效率与对照组相比无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,但是艾迪治疗组生活质量改善显著高于对照组、毒副反应发生率显著低于对照组（P〈0．05）。结论艾迪治疗恶性胸水与顺铂（DDP）对照组疗效相当,但生活质量明显改善且毒副作用小,患者易于接受。     

Yellow nails, lymphedema and pleural effusion. Treatment of chronic pleural effusion with pleuroperitoneal shunting

Pleural effusion secondary to lymphedema may be chronic, symptomatic and refractory to treatment, occasionally requiring invasive and painful procedures such as chemical pleurodesis, open pleural abrasion or pleurectomy to achieve control of the effusion and gain symptomatic relief. We report a patient with yellow nail syndrome and chronic pleural effusion successfully treated with pleuroperitoneal shunting.     

A case of aggressive myeloma with abnormal plasmocytes in pleural effusion and cerebrospinal fluid

Extramedullary involvement of myelomas is common but invasion of myeloma cells into the pleural cavity and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is rare. We report an aggressive case of multiple myelomas (Bence Jones lambda type) with pleural and meningeal infiltration. A 66-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of anemia, thrombocytopenia, and dyspnea. His peripheral blood contained 2% bizarre plasma cells. Bone marrow biopsy specimens and immunoelectrophoresis confirmed the diagnosis. A chest radiograph disclosed pleural effusion in both lungs containing M-protein and numerous abnormal cells. The patient also suffered from disorientation, speech disorder, and muscle weakness. A lumbar puncture revealed atypical plasma cells in CSF. Four courses of chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisolone) and the intrathecal administration of methotrexate and cytarabine at 3-week intervals were effective in decreasing the pleural effusions and eliminating plasma cells from CSF. Nonetheless a chest wall tumor, pelvic mass, and pneumonia developed, and the patient died 5 months after initial presentation. Pleural infiltration of myeloma cells and multiple lesions with plasma cell involvement were discovered at autopsy.     

Gestational choriocarcinoma with haemorrhagic pleural effusion.

A case of gestational choriocarcinoma with haemorrhagic pleural effusion is described. The importance of detection of human chorionic gonadotrophin in pleural fluid is highlighted.     

恶性胸膜间皮瘤合并肺结核/结核性胸腔积液的临床特征分析

目的:分析恶性胸膜间皮瘤(MPM)合并肺结核/结核性胸腔积液(TPE)患者的临床特征,以加强对该类疾病的认识,减少误诊误治。方法:收集首都医科大学附属北京胸科医院2012年2月至2020年2月MPM并肺结核/TPE患者病例资料14例,回顾性分析其临床症状、体征、实验室检查,胸部影像特征等,以总结其特点。结果:剧烈且进行...     

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia with pleural effusion.

The case history of a 77-year-old lady with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is presented. The diagnosis was difficult due to the simultaneous presence of a pleural effusion and congestive heart failure. Radiological findings and treatment are discussed.