Left-Sided Transudative Chylothorax With Concomitant Chylous Ascites in the Setting of Liver Cirrhosis

Janet Gukasyan; Alexander T Phan; Janie Hu; Shuhab Zaher; Sarkis Arabian; Mufadda Hasan; Dan Vo

doi:10.7759/cureus.33866

Left-Sided Transudative Chylothorax With Concomitant Chylous Ascites in the Setting of Liver Cirrhosis

Cureus. 2023 Jan 17;15(1):e33866. doi: 10.7759/cureus.33866. eCollection 2023 Jan.

Authors

Janet Gukasyan¹, Alexander T Phan², Janie Hu², Shuhab Zaher², Sarkis Arabian³, Mufadda Hasan⁴, Dan Vo²

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA.
² Internal Medicine, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, USA.
³ Pulmonary and Critical Care, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, USA.
⁴ Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, USA.

Abstract

Most chylothoraces are caused by trauma and malignancy, and pleural fluid analysis typically demonstrates an exudative effusion. Transudative chylothorax is a rare manifestation and has only been cited in case reports in the current literature. Here, we present the case of a 59-year-old male with a history of liver cirrhosis secondary to alcohol abuse, chronic kidney disease stage 3a, and hypertension who presented with a left-sided pleural effusion and abdominal ascites. A thoracentesis and abdominal paracentesis were performed, and fluid analyses demonstrated a transudative chylothorax with concomitant chylous ascites. In this review, we aim to highlight a rare case of transudative chylothorax and discuss the pathogenesis and management of this condition.

Keywords: alcohol related cirrhosis; chylothorax; hepatology; left sided pleural effusion; pleural disease; pulmonary medicine; pulmonary rehabilitation and medicine.

Publication types

Case Reports