Tuberc Respir Dis.  1985 Dec;32(4):252-258. 10.4046/trd.1985.32.4.252.

The Diagnostic Value of Pleural Fluid pH

• KMID: 2528722
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1985.32.4.252

Abstract

The pH of pleural fluids were measured in 53 patients with pleural effusion. The results were as follows: 1) Of the 53 effusions, 12 were classified as transudates, of which 5 patients were diagnosed as chronic renal failure 4 patients of congestive heart failure and 3 patients of liver cirrhosis 7All transudates had pleural pH over. 30. 2) 41 cases were classified as exudates, of which 20 patients were diagnosed as tuberculosis, 7 patients of maliganacy, 7 of parapneumonic effusion, 5 empyema, 1 of hemothorax, 1 of pancreatitis. Exudative effusions had a wide range of pH values depending on the cause of fluid accumulation. 3) All empyema cases had pH<(7.20 7.20 ± 0.06, mean ± SEM) and chest tube was inserted. All parapneumonic effusions in this study group had pH>7. 30(7. 35±0. 04, mean ± SEM) and chest tube was not inserted. 4) The mean pH of tuberculosis was 7.27± 0.14 and that of malignancy was 7.28±0. 15. Each mean pH of these two groups was not significantly different(p>0.05). Malignant effusion with huge, mediastinal shift and longstanding malignant effusion over 6 months had a pH less than 7.30. But mean pH of malignant effusion without mediastinal shift and malignant effusion less than 6 months was 7.38± 0.02. Therefore further studies to differentiate these two groups will have to be undertaken.