No cause found for persistent pleural effusions

Posted by cindyconstien @cindyconstien, Dec 24, 2018

I have been treated for 2 years for pleural effusions. All fluid and blood work comes back clean - no cancer, infection, virus - nothing. They had been tapping both lungs and getting 1.5 to 2 liters from each side. The heart has been checked out (EKGs, Echos, stress tests) and there are no issues.
In April I had a bi lateral pleurodesis performed with biopsies from my left lung (no issues). They used talc and 7 months later I just had 1.8 liters drawn from the right lung. They believe the left side was moderately successful but the right side failed. I'm about to schedule a redo on the right, perhaps using the chemical option. I am also looking at possible "constrictive pericarditis" and will get another echo today, possibly leading to a heart cath to look closer.
I am a non smoker, relatively fit. I ran marathons and triathlons, ate appropriately, non diabetic. Only medication is for cholesterol management and inhalers to try to relieve my breathing discomfort.
I'd like to treat the cause - not the symptoms.

Any ideas?
Rob C.

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@auroracambell, I'm not sure if @cindyconstien and @dutchw are still following this discussion on Mayo Clinic Connect or not. Having mentioned their username will send an email notification of the new message.

In the meantime Aurora, can you share a bit more about yourself? There is no known cause in about 25% of pleural effusions (See https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/pulmonary-medicine/news/update-in-pleural-disease/mac-20451628) Have your doctors ruled out congestive heart failure, malignancy or infection as a possible cause? What is next for you?

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@colleenyoung the fluids have been tested several times in the beginning which we discovered July 20th this year and no malignancy no heart failure no infection no answers .i had what they said to start old old pneumonia. Yesterday I had my 13th thoracentesis done 2000 ML again they said there’s at least another 400 ml left .my very first drain was done on July 21st 2025 .

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