If you perform a fluid analysis on a PLE patient, what is the typical description of the effusion?

If you perform a fluid analysis on a PLE patient, what is the typical description of the effusion?

• A. Transudate
• B. Exudate
• C. Chylous effusion
• D. Pure transudate

Answer: (D)

Protein loss into the gut lowers circulating albumin, which reduces plasma oncotic pressure. When oncotic pressure drops, fluid leaks out of vessels into body cavities without inflammation, producing a transudative effusion. In PLE the fluid is characteristically very low in protein and not inflammatory, which is described as a pure transudate. Exudates would indicate inflammation or infection with higher protein content, and a chylous effusion would be milky with elevated triglycerides due to lymphatic leakage—neither is typical for uncomplicated protein-losing enteropathy.

Protein loss into the gut lowers circulating albumin, which reduces plasma oncotic pressure. When oncotic pressure drops, fluid leaks out of vessels into body cavities without inflammation, producing a transudative effusion. In PLE the fluid is characteristically very low in protein and not inflammatory, which is described as a pure transudate. Exudates would indicate inflammation or infection with higher protein content, and a chylous effusion would be milky with elevated triglycerides due to lymphatic leakage—neither is typical for uncomplicated protein-losing enteropathy.