Lights_Criteria_guideline v.1
Light's Criteria for Exudative Effusions
Light's Criteria help to determine if the pleural fluid is exudative
Can be used to determine the type of a patient’s pleural effusion and thus its etiology. Variables: - Protein Parameters: Total serum Protein (gm/l), Pleural fluid Protein (gm/l) - LDH Parameters: Serum LDH (u/l), Pleural fluid LDH (u/l), Upper limit of normal serum LDH (u/l) - Is this a COVID-19 patient? (For research purposes only; answer does NOT impact results.): Confirmed positive, Suspected, Unlikely, Confirmed negative. Formula: Light's Criteria: Exudative Effusions will have at least one or more of the following: - Pleural fluid protein / Serum protein >0.5 - Pleural fluid LDH / Serum LDH >0.6 - Pleural fluid LDH > 2/3 * Serum LDH Upper Limit of Normal Note: Light’s criteria is more sensitive than specific test for exudative effusions.
1. Light RW, et. al. Pleural Effusions: The Diagnostic Separation of Transudates and Exudates. Ann Intern Med. 1972;77:507-513. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-77-4-507 2. Light RW, Erozan YS, Ball WC Jr. Cells in pleural fluid. Their value in differential diagnosis. Arch Intern Med. Dec 1973;132(6):854-60. 3. Ali HA, Lippmann M, Mundathaje U, Khaleeq G. Spontaneous hemothorax: a comprehensive review. Chest. Nov 2008;134(5):1056-65 4. Light RW. Clinical practice. Pleural effusion. N Engl J Med. Jun 20 2002;346(25):1971-7.
OBSERVATION.lights_criteria.v0, OBSERVATION.lab_test_ldh.v1
