This calculator helps medical professionals determine whether pleural effusions are transudative or exudative using the Light's criteria, aiding in the diagnosis of underlying conditions.
All calculations are based on the Light's criteria as described in the medical literature. Read more about Light's criteria. All calculations are strictly based on the formulas and data provided by this source.
Protein Ratio: \(\frac{\text{Pleural Fluid Protein}}{\text{Serum Protein}}\) > 0.5
LDH Ratio: \(\frac{\text{Pleural Fluid LDH}}{\text{Serum LDH}}\) > 0.6
LDH Level: Pleural Fluid LDH > 2/3 of upper normal limit for serum
Consider a patient with a pleural fluid protein of 3.0 g/dL, serum protein of 6.0 g/dL, pleural fluid LDH of 200 IU/L, and serum LDH of 400 IU/L. The calculations would be:
Light's criteria is a set of measurements used to differentiate between exudative and transudative pleural effusions.
The calculator is based on well-established medical guidelines and provides an accurate assessment based on the input data.
No, the calculator is specifically designed for pleural effusions.
Consult with a medical professional for further diagnosis and interpretation.
Re-evaluation depends on the patient's condition and should be guided by clinical judgment.