Pseudochylothorax Combined with Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Case Report of a Rare Complication of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Case Reports in Medicine
Raquel RosaJoão Cardoso

Abstract

Pleural involvement is the most frequent thoracic complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), usually occurring in patients with known RA. Typical rheumatoid pleural effusion is an exudate characterized by low pH and glucose levels and high LDH activity. Rarely, it has features of pseudochylothorax. Other uncommon complications are pneumothorax, hydropneumothorax, empyema, and bronchopleural fistula. The case of a 51-year-old man with a spontaneous, small, and asymptomatic hydropneumothorax with features of pseudochylothorax is presented. After careful clinical and laboratory evaluation, he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and we admitted that the pleural changes were secondary to the connective tissue disease. He started immunosuppressive treatment and maintained stability during follow-up, without need of specific pleural treatment. We hypothesized that the pleural nodule found on the chest computed tomography scan was related with the simultaneous occurrence of pleural effusion and pneumothorax. This is a rare presentation and complication of RA, highlighting the utility of a comprehensive clinical and laboratory evaluation and focusing on the importance of pleural rheumatoid nodules in the pathogenesis of RA pleural ...Continue Reading

References

Apr 1, 1967·The American Journal of Medicine·E H RubinW L Thelmo
Apr 1, 1982·Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases·A J CrispJ E Dussek
Jun 3, 1999·Medicine·A Garcia-ZamalloaN Gurrutxaga
Oct 18, 2003·Joint, Bone, Spine : Revue Du Rhumatisme·M RguibiK Alaoui Tahiri
Jun 13, 2006·Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism·Alexandra Balbir-GurmanYolanda Braun-Moscovici
Jul 27, 2015·European Journal of Radiology·Thanissara ChansakulRachna Madan
Dec 15, 2015·Lung India : Official Organ of Indian Chest Society·Crina MuresanDan L Dumitrascu
Mar 30, 2016·Archivos de bronconeumología·Lucía Zamora MolinaAlejandro Maestro Borbolla
Sep 14, 2016·Journal of Thoracic Disease·Adriana LamaLuis Valdés

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
biopsy
biopsies

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.