Pleural effusion with rheumatoid arthritis

Pleural effusions complicating rheumatoid arthritis occur most commonly in middle-aged men. The majority of these individuals will be symptomatic with pleuritic chest pain and/or dyspnea. Rheumatoid pleural effusions have distinct chemical characteristics including elevated LDH, low glucose and low pH. The finding of a rheumatoid nodule on pleural biopsy, is pathognomonic of a rheumatoid associated pleural effusion. Treatment of this spectrum of the disease is aimed at preventing progressive pleural fibrosis.