What Causes Pleurisy and Other Disorders of the
Pleura?
Pleurisy
Many different conditions can cause pleurisy. Viral
infection is the most common cause. Other conditions that can cause pleurisy
are:
- Bacterial infections like pneumonia and
tuberculosis
- Autoimmune disorders like systemic lupus
erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis
- Lung cancer, including lymphoma
- Other lung diseases like
sarcoidosis,
asbestosis,
lymphangioleiomyomatosis,
and mesothelioma
- Pulmonary
embolism, a blood clot in the blood vessels that go into the lungs
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Familial Mediterranean fever, an inherited condition that
often causes fever and swelling in the abdomen or lung
- Infection from a fungus or parasite
- Heart surgery, especially
coronary
artery bypass grafting
Other causes of pleurisy include:
- Chest injuries
- Reactions to certain medicines that can cause a
condition similar to systemic lupus erythematosus. These medicines include
procainamide, hydralazine, and isoniazid.
In some cases, doctors can't find the cause of the
pleurisy.
Pleural Effusion
The most common cause of pleural effusion, or fluid
in the pleural space, is
congestive
heart failure. Lung cancer, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and other lung
infections also can cause swelling of the pleura and lead to a pleural
effusion. Asbestosis, sarcoidosis, and reactions to some medicines also can
lead to pleural swelling and pleural effusion.
Pneumothorax
A pneumothorax, or air in the pleural space, can be
caused by lung diseases like
chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, and acute lung injury.
Surgery or a wound or injury to the chest also may lead to a pneumothorax.
Hemothorax
The most common cause of hemothorax, or blood in the
pleural space, is an injury to the chest. Cancer of the lung or pleura and
chest or heart surgery also may lead to a hemothorax.
Hemothorax also can be a complication of
tuberculosis. |