Rheumatoid arthritis with bloody and cholesterol pleural effusion

We describe a case of rheumatoid arthritis complicated by unilateral adhesive pleurisy and associated with bloody and cholesterol effusion in a 47-year-old man. Our case emphasizes that the diagnostician needs to consider rheumatoid disease in a differential diagnosis of bloody pleural effusion in patients with associated joint disease. Adequate histologic confirmation of the underlying pathology is required for definite diagnosis.