Accepted
at 6:32 p.m. Mar, 05, 2026
by
Rasheed
Bulk Suggestion
Bulk ID:
Rasheed/02.26.26-05:21PM
Author:
Rasheed
Type of change:
New Tags
Rationale for change
Light's Criteria tags from DirtyMed
No changes in fields
Text
Exudative pleural effusions must meet one of the Light criteria, which are:
- Pleural protein / serum protein > {{c1::0.5}}
- Pleural LDH / serum LDH > {{c1::0.6}}
- Pleural LDH > {{c1::2/3}} upper limit of normal serum LDH
Extra
"Exudative has extra stuff" - LDH, protein - due to increased microvascular permeability and cell destruction


| Light's Criteria | ||
| Transudative pleural effusion | Exudative pleural effusion | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein (pleural / serum) | ≤ 0.5 | > 0.5 |
| LDH (pleural / serum) | ≤ 0.6 | > 0.6 |
| Common causes | - Cirrhosis (low albumin) - Nephrotic syndrome (low albumin) - Congestive heart failure | - Infection (TB, fungal, empyema, parapneumonic) - Malignancy - Pulmonary embolism |


Photo Credit: James Heilman, MD, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, modified by cropping
Lecture Notes
Empty field
Missed Questions
Empty field
Pathoma
Empty field
Boards and Beyond
Empty field
First Aid
Empty field
Sketchy
Empty field
Sketchy 2





Watch Pleural Effusion Classification & Light's Criteria










Watch Parapneumonic Effusion & Empyema SOAP





Watch Pleural Effusion Classification & Light's Criteria










Watch Parapneumonic Effusion & Empyema SOAP
Sketchy Extra
Empty field
Picmonic
Empty field
Pixorize
Empty field
Physeo
Empty field
Bootcamp
Empty field
OME
Additional Resources
Emma Holiday:
One by one
y
