Hypothyroidism and Pleural Effusions* Andrew Gottehrer, M.D.;t Jaime Roa, M.D.;; Gregory G. Stanford, M.D.;+ Bart Chernow, M.D., F.C.C.E;§ and Steven A. Sahn, M.D., F.C.C.RII
Serous effusions have been thought to be an unusual complication of hypothyroidism and most commonly have been associated with ascites, pericardial 8uid and heart failure. Pleural 8uid as an isolated 60ding in hypothyroidism is apparently rare and complete analysis of these hypothyroid-associated pleural effusions has not been described. To determine the frequency, chemical characteristics and clinical associations ofhypothyroidism and pleural effusions, the medical records of 128 patients with hypothyroidism (de6ned by an increased serum TSH concentration)
were reviewed. The majority of effusions in patients with hypothyroidism were due to other diseases. Effusions solely due to hypothyroidism appeared to be a real entity. These effusions were borderline between exudates and transudates and showed little evidence of inftammation.
appears to be a rare cause of H YPOthyroidism pleural effusions· with isolated that
mented primary hypothyroidism (serum TSH concentration ~10 .... U/ml) were included for stud~ Their records were reviewed to determine the etiologies of their effusions and chemical characteristics of these effusions. We classified the patients' pleural effusions into three groups: nonhypothyroid associated pleural effusions- pleural effusions in hypothyroid patients due to causes unrelated to hypothyroidism (eg, malignancy); hypothyroid associated pleural effusions- pleural effusions due to hypothyroid associated heart failure or other effusions resulting from hypothyroidism (ascites, pericardial 8uid); and hypothyroid pleural effusions- pleural effusions in hypothyroid patients with no other disease states or other hypothyroid-related pleural effusions that could explain the presence of pleural 8uid.
reports2~
have not fully documented the characteristics of the pleural 8uid. However, patients with hypothyroidism develop pleural effusions from other causes or related to their state of reduced thyroid function, such as pericardial 8uid, congestive heart failure or ascites. 7 •8 To better define the frequency of hypothyroid associated pleural effusions and the characteristics of such effusions, we reviewed the hospital records of patients with chemically documented primary hypothyroidism at two medical centers. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The medical re
Serous effusions have been thought to be an unusual complication of hypothyroidism and most commonly have been associated with ascites, pericardial 8uid and heart failure. Pleural 8uid as an isolated 60ding in hypothyroidism is apparently rare and complete analysis of these hypothyroid-associated pleural effusions has not been described. To determine the frequency, chemical characteristics and clinical associations ofhypothyroidism and pleural effusions, the medical records of 128 patients with hypothyroidism (de6ned by an increased serum TSH concentration)
were reviewed. The majority of effusions in patients with hypothyroidism were due to other diseases. Effusions solely due to hypothyroidism appeared to be a real entity. These effusions were borderline between exudates and transudates and showed little evidence of inftammation.
appears to be a rare cause of H YPOthyroidism pleural effusions· with isolated that
mented primary hypothyroidism (serum TSH concentration ~10 .... U/ml) were included for stud~ Their records were reviewed to determine the etiologies of their effusions and chemical characteristics of these effusions. We classified the patients' pleural effusions into three groups: nonhypothyroid associated pleural effusions- pleural effusions in hypothyroid patients due to causes unrelated to hypothyroidism (eg, malignancy); hypothyroid associated pleural effusions- pleural effusions due to hypothyroid associated heart failure or other effusions resulting from hypothyroidism (ascites, pericardial 8uid); and hypothyroid pleural effusions- pleural effusions in hypothyroid patients with no other disease states or other hypothyroid-related pleural effusions that could explain the presence of pleural 8uid.
reports2~
have not fully documented the characteristics of the pleural 8uid. However, patients with hypothyroidism develop pleural effusions from other causes or related to their state of reduced thyroid function, such as pericardial 8uid, congestive heart failure or ascites. 7 •8 To better define the frequency of hypothyroid associated pleural effusions and the characteristics of such effusions, we reviewed the hospital records of patients with chemically documented primary hypothyroidism at two medical centers. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The medical re
