CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Avicenna J Med 2019; 9(03): 111-114
DOI: 10.4103/ajm.AJM_131_18
CASE REPORT

Sweet hydrothorax: a common presentation of a rare condition

Mohamad Alhoda Mohamad Alahmad
Internal Medicine Residency Program, Mercy Health—St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo, USA
,
Rahil Kasmani
Nephrology Associates of Toledo, Maumee, Ohio
› Author Affiliations
Financial support and sponsorship Nil.
 

Abstract

Sweet hydrothorax is a known, yet rare, complication of peritoneal dialysis. It can be life-threatening. This case is about a 70-year-old lady who presented with acute respiratory failure due to massive right-sided hydrothorax that developed insidiously over 3 months of starting peritoneal dialysis. Thoracentesis and technetium scan confirmed the diagnosis. Treatment was successful with hemodialysis.

Key messages

– Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) can be complicated by sweet hydrothorax.

– Symptoms onset after initiation of PD and symptoms resolve with its discontinuation suggest the diagnosis.

– High gradient glucose level between pleural fluid and plasma is a hallmark feature of sweet hydrothorax.

– Patients with life-threatening symptoms can consider hemodialysis or surgical options.


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INTRODUCTION

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a form of dialysis offered to patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It is associated with less mortalities in the first 2 years[1] and can provide the best dialysis modalities based on patient’s health and home situation as well as dialysis-center factors. Clinicians should be familiar with its complications. One rare complication that can be life-threatening is PD-associated hydrothorax. Although it has been described in nephrology literature, limited number of cases has been published in general medicine journals. Herein, we present a case of acute respiratory failure due to massive hydrothorax related to PD.


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CASE REPORT

A 70-year-old female patient with past medical history of well-controlled rheumatoid arthritis and hypertensive nephropathy complicated by ESRD, for which she was started on PD 3 months ago, presented to the hospital with deteriorating dyspnea associated with nonproductive cough over 2 weeks.

She has been compliant with her dialysis sessions that were well-tolerated. She was treated for KEYWORDonchitis before presentation with no improvement. The patient had good functional status before the presentation and lived independently. She denied productive cough, pleuritic chest pain, lower extremity edema, or fever. No history of diabetes mellitus, immobility, or calf swelling was reported. Vitals showed blood pressure of 133/84mm Hg and heart rate of 96 beats per minute, hypoxia with 70% saturation on room air, and tachypneic with respiratory rate in 20 KEYWORDeaths per minute. Physical examination was significant for decrease KEYWORDeath sounds and dullness on percussion over the right lower lobe. No active arthritis, pitting edema, or elevated jugular venous pressure was noted. Laboratory tests showed mild leukocytosis and hyperglycemia [see [Table 1]].

Table 1

Laboratory and biochemical values on admission[1]

Lab

Value

Reference

WBC = white blood cell, BUN = blood urea nitrogen, INR = international normalized ratio, ALT = alanine transaminase, AST = aspartate transaminase, LDH = lactate dehydrogenase, RBC = red blood cell

WBC

15.9

4-11 Thou/mm3

BUN

30

6-20 mg/dL

Creatinine

4.09

0.4-1.03 mg/dL

Glucose

162

70-1 10 mg/dL

INR

1

0-1.9

Total protein

6.7

5.9-7.5 g/dL

Albumin

3.5

3.3-4.5 g/dL

ALT

9

3-37 U/L

AST

18

8-34 U/L

Alkaline phosphatase

68

25-105 U/L

Total bilirubin

0.21

0.2-1 mg/dL

Pleural glucose

230

mg/dL

Pleural LDH

21

U/L

Plasma LDH

162

U/L

Pleural RBC

8

U/mm3

Pleural WBC

91

U/mm3

Pleural neutrophil

6

%

Pleural pH

7.9

Pleural cholesterol

<4

mg/dL

Pleural total protein

<1.0

g/dL

Chest x-ray revealed a massive right-sided pleural effusion that was not present on an x-ray taken few weeks before starting the PD (see [Figure 1] and [Figure 2]). Chest computed tomographic angiography showed no pulmonary emboli (see [Figure 3]). She was admitted to intensive care unit and was put on high flow oxygen therapy.

Zoom Image
Figure 1: The lungs are well expanded and clear bilaterally. No focal consolidation, pleural effusion, or pneumothorax is seen. Stable mild cardiac enlargement
Zoom Image
Figure 2: Near complete opacification of the right hemithorax secondary to a large effusion and atelectasis or consolidation. Recommend imaging follow-up after treatment to ensure resolution
Zoom Image
Figure 3: Very large right pleural effusion that occupies nearly the entire right hemithorax with compressive atelectasis and consolidation in the right perihilar region. Recommend imaging follow-up after treatment to ensure resolution

A thoracentesis of 1.3-L slightly yellow tinged clear fluid provided significant symptom relief. Analysis was consistent with transudative effusion and high glucose level in pleural fluid in comparison with serum glucose level (see [Table 1]). Technetium 99m (Tc 99m) scintigraphy showed leakage of Tc 99m into right pleural space [Figure 4]. This suggests peritoneopleural communication due to a large, most likely congenital, right diaphragmatic defect.

Zoom Image
Figure 4: Tc-99m scintigraphy: 4.5 mCi of technetium 99m was injected through peritoneal dialysis catheter. Subsequently, scintigraphy of the chest was performed at 15 (on the left), 30 (on the middle), and 120 min (on the right)

PD was discontinued and patient was started on hemodialysis. Follow-up evaluation showed neither recurrence of symptoms nor recurrence of pleural effusion on chest x-ray (see [Figure 5]).{Figure 5}

Zoom Image
Figure 5: Chest x-ray, few weeks after starting hemodialysis, showed no pleural effusion. Perm catheter is in place

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DISCUSSION

Hydrothorax is a known complication of PD that occurs in about 1.6%–6% of patients with this form of dialysis, whether they are adult or children.[2] It is more prevalence in female patients compared to males.[3] It tends to occur on the right side,[4] and develops usually within the first year of starting PD.[5] Later occurrence after 8 years of using PD has been reported as well.[4]

The clinical manifestation of PD-associated hydrothorax is similar to symptoms associated with other etiologies of pleural effusion including dyspnea, nonproductive cough, and chest discomfort. Mild pleural effusion can be asymptomatic. However, large pleural effusion may cause severe symptoms at presentation. Symptoms onset after starting PD are suggestive of the disease process.[6]

Pleural fluid analysis is indicative of transudative effusion. High glucose concentration in pleural fluid is diagnostic, hence the name “sweet hydrothorax,”[7] and difference of more than 50mg/dL was found to have 100% specificity.[8] In our case, the patient had no history of diabetes mellitus and the most recent HbA1c was 5.4%. However, the pleural glucose level was high compare to plasma glucose level. This is related to dextrose solution that is being used in PD, which leaks into pleural space. Severe hyperglycemia in diabetic patients has been reported as a complication as well.[9]

Several imaging can be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Tc can be injected into peritoneal cavity to evaluate the leakage of dialysis fluid. Video-assisted thoracic surgery can be a diagnostic and therapeutic option for patients who prefers to stay on PD.[5],[10] Thoracic surgery to repair the defect or pleurodesis could be also considered in patients who failed conservative management.[8]

We believe that the acute respiratory failure was due to large pleural effusion that is attributed to starting PD. This is supported by pleural fluid analysis and improvement of symptoms following pleurocentesis and hemodialysis. Tc study confirmed the diagnosis.

This case demonstrates the significance of sweet hydrothorax as a potentially life-threatening complication of PD in patients with peritoneo-pleural communication. Awareness of this condition and its imaging findings as well as the pleural fluid analysis are important for diagnosis and management.

Acknowledgement

We thank Archana Gundabolu MD for her help in presenting the case in Mercy Symposium 2018.


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Conflict of Interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

  • References

  • 1 Yeates K, Zhu N, Vonesh E, Trpeski L, Blake P, Fenton S. Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are associated with similar outcomes for end-stage renal disease treatment in Canada. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2012; 27: 3568-75
  • 21 Gidaris D, Printza N, Batzios S, BelechriBelechri AM, Papachristou F. A “sweet” hydrothorax in a child on peritoneal dialysis. Hippokratia 2011; 15: 358-60
  • 3 Lepage S, Bisson G, Verreault J, Plante GE. Massive hydrothorax complicating peritoneal dialysis. Isotopic investigation (peritoneopleural scintigraphy). Clin Nucl Med 1993; 18: 498-501
  • 4 Nomoto Y, Suga T, Nakajima K, Sakai H, Osawa G, Ota K. et al. Acute hydrothorax in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis—a collaborative study of 161 centers. Am J Nephrol 1989; 9: 363-7
  • 5 Tang S, Chui WH, Tang AW, Li FK, Chau WS, Ho YW. et al. Video-assisted thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis is effective for maintenance of peritoneal dialysis in acute hydrothorax complicating peritoneal dialysis. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2003; 18: 804-8
  • 6 Clattenburg E, Bhatnagar A, Perfetto C, McNabney M. Not so “sweet”: An unusual case of dyspnea in an older woman on peritoneal dialysis. J Am Geriatr Soc 2014; 62: 409-10
  • 7 Chow KM, Szeto CC, Wong TY, Li PK. Hydrothorax complicating peritoneal dialysis: Diagnostic value of glucose concentration in pleural fluid aspirate. Perit Dial Int 2002; 22: 525-8
  • 8 Szeto CC, Chow KM. Pathogenesis and management of hydrothorax complicating peritoneal dialysis. Curr Opin Pulm Med 2004; 10: 315-9
  • 9 Smolin B, Henig I, Levy Y. “Sweet” hydrothorax complicating chronic peritoneal dialysis. Eur J Intern Med 2006; 17: 583-4
  • 10 Maude RR, Barretti M. Severe “sweet” pleural effusion in a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient. Respir Med Case Rep 2014; 13: 1-3

Address for correspondence

Mohamad Alhoda Mohamad Alahmad
Internal Medicine Residency Program, Mercy Health—St. Vincent Medical Center
12101 W, 128th Place Apt. #16205, Overland Park, Kansas 66213
USA   

Publication History

Article published online:
09 August 2021

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  • References

  • 1 Yeates K, Zhu N, Vonesh E, Trpeski L, Blake P, Fenton S. Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are associated with similar outcomes for end-stage renal disease treatment in Canada. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2012; 27: 3568-75
  • 21 Gidaris D, Printza N, Batzios S, BelechriBelechri AM, Papachristou F. A “sweet” hydrothorax in a child on peritoneal dialysis. Hippokratia 2011; 15: 358-60
  • 3 Lepage S, Bisson G, Verreault J, Plante GE. Massive hydrothorax complicating peritoneal dialysis. Isotopic investigation (peritoneopleural scintigraphy). Clin Nucl Med 1993; 18: 498-501
  • 4 Nomoto Y, Suga T, Nakajima K, Sakai H, Osawa G, Ota K. et al. Acute hydrothorax in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis—a collaborative study of 161 centers. Am J Nephrol 1989; 9: 363-7
  • 5 Tang S, Chui WH, Tang AW, Li FK, Chau WS, Ho YW. et al. Video-assisted thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis is effective for maintenance of peritoneal dialysis in acute hydrothorax complicating peritoneal dialysis. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2003; 18: 804-8
  • 6 Clattenburg E, Bhatnagar A, Perfetto C, McNabney M. Not so “sweet”: An unusual case of dyspnea in an older woman on peritoneal dialysis. J Am Geriatr Soc 2014; 62: 409-10
  • 7 Chow KM, Szeto CC, Wong TY, Li PK. Hydrothorax complicating peritoneal dialysis: Diagnostic value of glucose concentration in pleural fluid aspirate. Perit Dial Int 2002; 22: 525-8
  • 8 Szeto CC, Chow KM. Pathogenesis and management of hydrothorax complicating peritoneal dialysis. Curr Opin Pulm Med 2004; 10: 315-9
  • 9 Smolin B, Henig I, Levy Y. “Sweet” hydrothorax complicating chronic peritoneal dialysis. Eur J Intern Med 2006; 17: 583-4
  • 10 Maude RR, Barretti M. Severe “sweet” pleural effusion in a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient. Respir Med Case Rep 2014; 13: 1-3

Zoom Image
Figure 1: The lungs are well expanded and clear bilaterally. No focal consolidation, pleural effusion, or pneumothorax is seen. Stable mild cardiac enlargement
Zoom Image
Figure 2: Near complete opacification of the right hemithorax secondary to a large effusion and atelectasis or consolidation. Recommend imaging follow-up after treatment to ensure resolution
Zoom Image
Figure 3: Very large right pleural effusion that occupies nearly the entire right hemithorax with compressive atelectasis and consolidation in the right perihilar region. Recommend imaging follow-up after treatment to ensure resolution
Zoom Image
Figure 4: Tc-99m scintigraphy: 4.5 mCi of technetium 99m was injected through peritoneal dialysis catheter. Subsequently, scintigraphy of the chest was performed at 15 (on the left), 30 (on the middle), and 120 min (on the right)
Zoom Image
Figure 5: Chest x-ray, few weeks after starting hemodialysis, showed no pleural effusion. Perm catheter is in place