Clinical study of various kinds of pleurisy and pleural effusion pH
We have examined whether or not pleural effusion pH is useful in differential diagnosis involving pleurisy. Subjects were 25 patients each of bacterial pleurisy, tuberculous pleurisy, carcinomatous pleurisy, and transudative pleural effusion. Pleural effusion pH was measured using litmus paper. Results revealed that pleural effusion pH was distributed from 7.6 to 8.2 in each disease. The mean pH was 8.0 for the 4 diseases, showing no difference between them. Based on the above, it was considered impossible to differentiate pleurisy by pleural effusion pH. (Accepted on April 8, 2011)
