The Diagnostic Value of Pleural Fluid pH

Hong, Jung Kon; Son, Hie Chull; Park, Jae Chan; Kim, Ja Cheon; Nam, Song Hyun; Kim, Yae Won

doi:1985.32.4.252

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 32(4); 1985 > Article

Original Article

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1985;32(4):252-258.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1985.32.4.252 Published online December 1, 1985.

The Diagnostic Value of Pleural Fluid pH

Jung Kon Hong, Hie Chull Son, Jae Chan Park, Ja Cheon Kim, Song Hyun Nam, Yae Won Kim

Department of Internal Medicine, Hangang Sacred Heaγt Hospital, Hallym College, Seoul, Korea

늑막저류액 pH의 진단적 가치

홍정곤, 손희철, 박재찬, 김자천, 남송현, 김예원

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.