Eosinophilia and elevated IgE concentration in a serous pleural effusion following trauma.

Abstract

Pleural effusions with eosinophilia have been reported after trauma, but the fluid is usually sanguineous. This patient presented with a fractured rib, a lung hematoma, and a subsequent pleural effusion that was serous in nature and had 46 per cent eosinophils. In addition, there was a 10 per cent serum eosinophilia. Measurements of pleural fluid and serum IgE were also elevated, and the IgE value and eosinophil count returned to normal with resolution of the hematoma and pleural effusion. A trauma-related serous pleural fluid eosinophilia with peripheral eosinophilia has not been described previously.