Lung diseases are some of the most common medical conditions in the world. Tens of millions of people suffer from lung disease in the U.S. Smoking, infections, and genetics are responsible for most lung diseases. The lungs are part of a complex apparatus, expanding and relaxing thousands of times each day to bring in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide.
Transudate is fluid pushed through the capillary due to high pressure within the capillary. Exudate is fluid that leaks around the cells of the capillaries caused by inflammation. Learn why transudative fluid does not contain proteins, why exudate does contain proteins, and how health professionals can differentiate between the two using Lightâs criteria.
The result is a mild increase in both total protein (3.0-5.0 g/dl) and nucleated cell count (less than 5000/Î¼l). When this occurs, the fluid is known as a modified transudate. Thus, modified transudates are nothing more than transudates which have been present long enough to illicit a mild inflammatory reaction. Eventually, physical characteristics of the fluid may change enough so that the fluid is classified as an exudate. In cases of extended duration, modified transudates can have a cloudy to almost milky gross appearance.