What is the Difference Between Exudate and Transudate?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between exudate and transudate lies in their causes and characteristics. Exudate and transudate are types of fluid accumulation that can occur in body cavities, such as the pleural space around the lungs. Here are the key differences between them:
- Cause: Exudates are caused by tissue leakage due to inflammation or local cellular damage, while transudates are caused by systemic conditions that alter the pressure in blood vessels, causing fluid to leave the vascular system.
- Protein Concentration: Exudates typically have a higher protein concentration than transudates.
- Lactic Dehydrogenase (LDH): Exudates usually have a higher LDH level, which is indicative of cell damage.
- Light's Criteria: Light's criteria is a calculation that helps determine if the fluid within a body cavity, called an effusion, is caused by a transudate or exudate. The fluid is considered an exudate if at least one of the following criteria is present: effusion protein/serum protein ratio greater than 0.5, effusion LDH/serum LDH ratio greater than 0.6, or effusion LDH level greater than two-thirds the upper limit of the laboratory's reference range.
Some common causes of transudative effusions include congestive heart failure, liver failure, nephrotic syndrome, and hypoalbuminemia. On the other hand, common causes of exudative effusions include pneumonia, cancer, tuberculosis, and pulmonary embolism.
Comparative Table: Exudate vs Transudate
Here is a table comparing the differences between exudate and transudate:
Feature | Exudate | Transudate |
---|---|---|
Main Causes | Inflammation, increased vascular permeability | ↑ hydrostatic pressure, ↓ colloid osmotic pressure |
Appearance | Cloudy | Clear |
Specific Gravity | > 1.020 | < 1.012 |
Protein Content | > 2.9 g/dL | < 2.5 g/dL |
Fluid Protein/Serum Protein | > 0.5 | < 0.5 |
SAAG (Serum [albumin] - Effusion [albumin]) | < 1.2 g/dL | > 1.2 g/dL |
Fluid LDH/Serum LDH | > 0.6 or > 2/3 | < 0.6 or < 2/3 |
Cholesterol Content | > 45 mg/dL | < 45 mg/dL |
Radiodensity on CT Scan | 4 to 33 HU | 2 to 15 HU |
Exudate is typically caused by inflammation or local cellular damage, resulting in tissue leakage. On the other hand, transudate is caused by systemic conditions that alter the pressure in blood vessels, causing fluid to leave the vascular system.
- Exudative vs Transudative Pleural Effusion
- Transpiration vs Sweating
- Diffusion vs Effusion
- Evaporation vs Transpiration
- Guttation vs Transpiration
- Secretion vs Excretion
- Egestion vs Excretion
- Excretion vs Osmoregulation
- Edema vs Swelling
- Endosmosis vs Exosmosis
- Dialysis vs Ultrafiltration
- Intracellular vs Extracellular Fluids
- Infiltration vs Extravasation
- Blood Transfusion vs Dialysis
- Amniotic Fluid vs Urine
- Osmosis vs Dialysis
- Urea vs Urine
- Filtration vs Reabsorption
- Edema vs Lymphedema