Effusion-Serum Chloride Gradient in Heart Failure-Associated Pleural Effusion - Pathophysiologic Implications.

There is scant clinical data of electrolyte analyses in the pleural fluid under heart failure (HF) pathophysiology. This study retrospectively analyzed data from 17 consecutive patients who presented with pleural effusion and underwent thoracentesis. A diagnosis of worsening HF was established by clinical criteria (presentation, echocardiography, serum B-type natriuretic peptide, and response to therapy). Samples of non-heparinized pleural fluid and peripheral venous blood, obtained within 2 h of each other, were subjected to biochemical analysis. The source of pleural effusion was determined as transudate or exudate according to Light's criteria. Fifteen patients (53% men; mean [±SD] age 85±11 years) had HF-associated pleural effusion, 10 of whom had transudative effusion and 5 who had exudative effusion (fulfilling only 1 [n=4] or both [n=1] lactate dehydrogenase criteria). The effusion-serum gradient (calculated by subtracting the serum electrolyte concentration from the effusion electrolyte concentration) was significantly higher for chloride (mean [±SD] 7.4±2.6 mEq/L; range 4-14 mEq/L) than sodium (0.9±1.4 mEq/L; ranging from -1 to 4 mEq/L) and potassium (-0.1±0.3 mEq/L; ranging from -0.8 to 0.2 mEq/L; P<0.001 for each). In HF-associated pleural effusion, the chloride concentration is higher in the pleural effusion than the serum, indicating that chloride may have an important role in the formation and retention of body fluid in the pleural space.