Main characteristics of pleural fluid allowing to diagnose or exclude hepatic hydrothorax
| Light’s criteria for exudative effusion if at least one criterion is present |
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| Pleural fluid protein/serum protein ratio > 0.5 |
| Pleural fluid LDH > 200 IU/L or > 2/3 serum LDH |
| Pleural fluid LDH/serum LDH > 0.6 |
| Main characteristics of hepatic hydrothorax |
| Serum protein < 25 g/L |
| Pleural fluid protein/serum protein ratio < 0.5 |
| Pleural fluid LDH < 200 IU/L |
| Pleural fluid LDH/serum LDH < 0.6 |
| Albumin gradient (serum-pleural) > 11 g/L |
| Pleural fluid pH > 7.3 |
| Neutrophils in pleural fluid < 500/mm3 with negative culture |
LDH: lactate dehydrogenase. Hepatic hydrothorax is a transudative pleura effusion