Primary systemic amyloidosis: A rare cause for pleural effusion

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Pulmonology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Pleural effusion is a frequent clinical presentation.
• Rare etiologies of pleural effusion are often overlooked in differential diagnoses.
• Renal amyloidosis is an uncommon condition that can manifest with pleural effusions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of renal amyloidosis presenting as pleural effusion.
• To emphasize the importance of considering uncommon causes of pleural effusion in patients with end-stage renal disease.
• To highlight the diagnostic utility of thoracoscopic pleural biopsy.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a patient with renal amyloidosis on hemodialysis.
• Clinical evaluation for left-sided pleural effusion.
• Thoracoscopic pleural biopsy for histopathological diagnosis.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with left-sided pleural effusion.
• Evaluation revealed renal amyloidosis as the underlying cause.
• Thoracoscopic pleural biopsy confirmed amyloidosis, suggesting primary systemic amyloidosis.

Conclusions:

• Renal amyloidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion, especially in patients on hemodialysis.
• Thoracoscopic pleural biopsy is an effective method for diagnosing amyloidosis.
• This case underscores the possibility of primary systemic amyloidosis presenting with pleural effusion in renal patients.