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Published on: November 10, 2023
Sarcoidosis associated pleural effusion: A case series and review
Daniel J Greenberg1, Sana Ali1, Amit Chopra1
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA.
Abstract:
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease most commonly affecting the lungs but also can rarely manifest as pleural effusions. Sarcoidosis associated pleural effusion occurs in around 1% of patients with sarcoidosis. Pleural fluid is typically exudative, lymphocyte predominant, with high pleural protein levels and normal or mildly elevated lactate dehydrogenase. Diagnosis involves excluding other etiologies of this pleural effusion and can be made clinically or definitively with pleural biopsy showing noncaseating granulomas. Treatment involves corticosteroids to which patients typically have an excellent response with resolution of the pleural effusion.
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