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James S. Allan
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Ann Thorac Surg 2005;80:1519-1521
© 2005 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Case report

Rheumatoid Pleural Effusion in the Absence of Arthritic Disease

James S. Allan, MD * , Dean M. Donahue, MD, Julie M. Garrity, RN

Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

Accepted for publication April 12, 2004.

* Address reprint requests to Dr Allan, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Blake 1570, Boston, MA02114 (Email: jallan{at}partners.org).

Rheumatoid pleural effusion is an unusual complication of rheumatoid disease that typically presents subsequent to other more common manifestations of rheumatoid illness. The case of a 72-year-old woman with a rheumatoid pleural effusion is discussed. The patient presented with dyspnea, but without any history of rheumatoid arthritis. The patient was treated by thoracentesis, followed by video-thoracoscopy and pulmonary decortication. Postoperatively, the patient's effusion partially reaccumulated. Steroid therapy resulted in prompt and permanent resolution of the effusion. The patient remains asymptomatic 1 year after her presentation. The biochemical, serologic, and cytologic characteristics of rheumatoid effusions are reviewed.






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Copyright © 2005 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.