Fluid Analysis – part 7 – Pericardial fluid Analysis
Sample
- Pericardial fluid is aspirated and is tested.
Pathophysiology
- Normally there is 10 to 50 mL pericardial fluid between the pericardial serous membrane.
- This pericardial fluid formation is due to change in the permeability of the membrane which may be because of infection (pericarditis), malignancy, injury, and metabolic disorders like uremia.
| The pericardial fluid | Clinical significance |
| Appearance | |
| Clear and pale | Normal |
| Grossly bloody | Cardiac puncture, and anticoagulant medications |
| Blood tinged | Infection and malignancy |
| Milky | Chylous and pseudonymous |
| Microscopic examination | |
| Neutrophils | Increased in bacterial infection (>1000/cmm) |
| Lymphocytes | Chronic infection |
| Gram stain | Bacterial endocarditis |
| AFB stain | Tuberculous infection |
| Malignant cells | Metastatic carcinoma (lung, breast) |
| Chemicals test | |
| CEA | Metastatic carcinoma |
| Adenosine deaminase | Tuberculous infection |