Red Blood Cells
Causes of RBC in Pleural Fluid
- Traumatic collection
- Haemothorax
- Malignancy
- Parapneumonic effusion
- Pulmonary embolism
White Blood Cells
Causes of WBC in Pleural Fluid
- Infection - parapneumonic effusion, TB
- Autoimmune disease
- Malignancy
Interpretation
- >50% neutrophils - parapneumonic effusion, PE, pancreatitis
- >80% lymphocytes - TB or lymphoma
- >10% eosinophils - pneumothorax, haemothorax, drug reaction, Churg-Strauss
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