[Bilateral pleural effusion and rheumatoid arthritis. Diagnostic value of pleural fluid cytology].

We present a 69 years old male patient diagnosed of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with signs of pleuropulmonar disease. The diagnose of RA was done of 49 years and since then treated with non steroid antiinflammatory drugs and during the acute phases of RA with steroid drugs. The pleural effusions showed an exudate with pseudochilothorax criteria with acid pH acid low glucose concentrations. The cytological study of the effusion demonstrated the presence of characteristic mononuclear cells.