Pleural Effusion Due to Use of Pioglitazone: A Case Report.

Pioglitazone is an effective treatment option in clinical practice for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is challenged by a lot of adverse effects, primarily body weight gain, peripheral edema, as well as congestive heart failure. This is a case of a 76-year-old woman with no evidence of cardiac disease, who developed edema as well as bilateral pleural effusion after using pioglitazone. She got a weight decrease and complete resolution of the pleural effusion after stopping use of pioglitazone and rational use of diuretics. Common side effects of pioglitazone have been widely reported. However, little attention was drawn on pleural effusion in diabetic patients with no pre-existing heart dysfunction. In this case, we show the use of pioglitazone results in pleural effusion, with emphasis on the clinical recognition and management.