New Perspective on the Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Rheumatoid Pleural Effusion: A 29-Case Series.

Objective Rheumatoid pleural effusion (RPE) usually occurs in middle-aged men. Pleural fluid analyses have revealed high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and low pH and glucose levels in RPE. We aimed to investigate the clinical and laboratory features of patients with RPE since the beginning of the 21st century.