Pleural Effusion Types in Chronic Kidney Disease

Transudative and Exudative Pleural Effusion in CKD Patients

The purpose of this observational study is to understand the causes of pleural effusion (a buildup of fluid around the lungs) in patients with advanced Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD Stages 3 to 5). Pleural effusion is a common complication in kidney disease, but it can be caused by many different issues, such as simple fluid overload, heart failure, or infections like tuberculosis.

To treat this fluid buildup effectively, doctors need to classify whether the fluid is a transudate (usually caused by pressure imbalances like fluid overload) or an exudate (caused by inflammation, lung disease, or infection). Standard medical formulas, known as Light's Criteria, are typically used to figure this out by comparing proteins in the fluid to proteins in the blood. However, these standard tests may sometimes misclassify the fluid in kidney disease patients because their baseline blood protein and albumin levels are often altered by their condition.

Researchers in this study will enroll adult CKD patients (both on dialysis and not yet on dialysis) who have confirmed fluid around their lungs. Participants will undergo a standard, ultrasound-guided procedure called a diagnostic thoracentesis to safely draw a small amount of the chest fluid. At the same time, a routine blood sample will be taken.

The study aims to:

• Compare the chest fluid to the blood sample using standard criteria, abbreviated criteria, and the Serum-Pleural Effusion Albumin Gradient (SPAG).
• Determine the most common underlying causes of lung fluid across different stages of kidney disease.
• Identify which diagnostic formula is the most accurate for CKD patients, helping doctors avoid misdiagnosis and provide better, more targeted treatments.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Chronic Kidney Disease; Pleural Effusion

Detailed Description

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global health burden. As CKD progresses through stages III-V, systemic complications become increasingly prevalent, with pleural effusion identified in 20-40% of CKD patients at autopsy. Pleural effusion in CKD arises from diverse mechanisms. Transudative effusions are predominantly associated with fluid overload and heart failure. Exudative effusions are most commonly caused by tuberculosis, uremic pleuritis, and parapneumonic processes.

The cornerstone of differentiating transudative from exudative pleural effusions remains Light's Criteria. However, the criteria carry an acknowledged risk of misclassification in CKD patients, where altered protein metabolism, reduced serum albumin, and dialysis-related biochemical shifts may distort pleural fluid-serum ratios. Given the diagnostic complexity posed by coexisting comorbidities, there is a clear need for a dedicated prospective study that systematically evaluates the incidence, etiology, and biochemical classification of pleural effusions in CKD Stage 3-5 patients.

Eligible participants will undergo a comprehensive clinical evaluation, which includes a structured clinical history form to capture demographic data, presenting symptoms, CKD history, dialysis status, and comorbidities. A physical examination will assess signs of fluid overload and pleural effusion findings.

Imaging studies will be utilized to confirm and grade the effusion. This includes a Chest X-ray (PA view) as an initial screening tool and Thoracic Ultrasound to assess effusion volume, echogenicity, and loculation. A CT Chest may be performed if ultrasound or X-ray findings are inconclusive, or if malignancy or complicated effusion is suspected.

A diagnostic thoracentesis will be performed under full aseptic conditions and ultrasound guidance to minimize complications. Approximately 30-60 mL of pleural fluid will be aspirated for diagnostic analysis, which includes gross appearance, total protein, LDH, glucose, pH, albumin, cell count, Gram stain, AFB smear, and cytology. Simultaneous serum laboratory tests will be collected at the same time as the thoracentesis for ratio calculations.

To evaluate diagnostic accuracy in the CKD population, four classification methods will be applied to each patient's samples:

• Standard Light's Criteria: An effusion is exudative if the pleural fluid/serum protein ratio is >0.5, pleural fluid/serum LDH ratio is >0.6, or pleural fluid LDH is >2/3 of the upper normal limit of serum LDH.
• Abbreviated Light's Criteria: Uses only the protein (>0.5) or LDH (>0.6) ratios.
• Modified Light's Criteria: Requires at least two of the three original criteria to be positive.
• Serum-Pleural Effusion Albumin Gradient (SPAG): Calculated as Serum Albumin minus Pleural Fluid Albumin. A SPAG > 1.2 g/dL indicates a transudative effusion, while a SPAG ≤ 1.2 g/dL indicates an exudative effusion. SPAG is particularly valuable in CKD patients to prevent misclassifying a true transudate as an exudate.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 100

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population comprises adult patients (≥18 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Stages 3, 4, or 5 (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² for ≥3 months) who present with a radiologically confirmed pleural effusion. The cohort includes both pre-dialysis patients and those currently on maintenance hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Participants will be enrolled from Assiut University Hospitals. Patients with acute kidney injury, trauma-related effusions, active malignancies, post-surgical effusions, or those who are pregnant are excluded from the sample.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged ≥18 years of either sex
• Confirmed diagnosis of CKD Stage 3-5 based on eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² for ≥3 months, as per KDIGO 2012 guidelines
• Radiologically confirmed pleural effusion on chest X-ray (CXR) or thoracic ultrasound
• Patients on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, as well as those not yet on dialysis (CKD Stage 3-5 pre-dialysis)
• Willingness to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) or acute-on-chronic kidney disease without prior CKD diagnosis
• Trauma-related pleural effusion (hemothorax, chylothorax)
• Known active malignancy with suspected malignant effusion
• Patients with post-surgical or iatrogenic pleural effusion
• Patients who refuse consent or are unable to undergo thoracentesis due to coagulopathy or other contraindications
• Pregnancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

CKD Stage 3-5 with Pleural Effusion; Adult patients (≥18 years old) with a confirmed diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Stages 3 through 5, including both pre-dialysis and dialysis-dependent patients, who present with a radiologically confirmed pleural effusion. Patients in this cohort will undergo an ultrasound-guided diagnostic thoracentesis alongside simultaneous serum laboratory testing. The collected pleural fluid and serum will be analyzed to classify the effusion (using Light's Criteria, abbreviated criteria, and SPAG) and to determine its underlying etiology.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Participants Classified with Transudative or Exudative Pleural Effusions	The primary outcome assesses the number of participants whose pleural effusion is classified as either transudative or exudative. This classification is determined by applying Standard Light's Criteria to pleural fluid and simultaneous serum laboratory tests. An effusion is defined as exudative if any one of the following is met: pleural fluid/serum protein ratio > 0.5 , pleural fluid/serum LDH ratio > 0.6 , or pleural fluid LDH > 2/3 of the upper normal limit of serum LDH. If none are met, it is classified as transudative.	Baseline (at the time of diagnostic thoracentesis)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Assiut University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): May 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 17, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 17, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 23, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 17, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Hemodialysis; Thoracentesis; Exudate; Transudate; Light's Criteria; Serum-Pleural Effusion Albumin Gradient (SPAG); Uremic Pleuritis
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Male Urogenital Diseases; Kidney Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Renal Insufficiency; Pleural Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Pleural Effusion
• Other Study ID Numbers: Pleural Effusion Types in CKD