Interactive Light's Criteria calculator for pleural effusion. Requires the calculator gadget.
Usage: {{Lights Criteria Calculator}}
Light's Criteria
Light's Criteria — Pleural Effusion
| Parameter
|
Value
|
| Pleural fluid protein (g/dL)
|
|
| Serum protein (g/dL)
|
|
| Pleural fluid LDH (IU/L)
|
|
| Serum LDH (IU/L)
|
|
| Upper limit of normal serum LDH (IU/L)
|
|
| Results
|
| Pleural protein / Serum protein ratio
|
|
| Pleural LDH / Serum LDH ratio
|
|
| Pleural LDH / ULN serum LDH
|
|
| Interpretation
|
| Exudative (any 1 of:)
|
Pleural protein/serum protein > 0.5 OR Pleural LDH/serum LDH > 0.6 OR Pleural LDH > 2/3 ULN serum LDH. Causes: infection, malignancy, PE, autoimmune, etc.
|
| Transudative
|
None of the above criteria met. Causes: CHF, cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, PE.
|
| References
|
- Light RW, Macgregor MI, Luchsinger PC, et al. Pleural effusions: the diagnostic separation of transudates and exudates. Ann Intern Med. 1972;77(4):507-513. PMID 4642731.
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