Archivos de bronconeumología
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Arch. Bronconeumol. · May 1994
[Cholesterol in pleural fluid. Its usefulness in differentiating between exudates and transudates].
To analyze the usefulness of cholesterol levels in the differentiation of exudates and transudates. A 3.5-year prospective study of 170 patients with pleural discharge. Clinical microbiological and cyto-histological criteria were used for diagnosis. ⋯ The cholesterol in pleural fluid/serum quotient was the most useful biochemical variable. Cholesterol levels were about as useful as Light's criteria. The association of LDH and cholesterol allows us to bypass blood analyses for the diagnosis of exudates.