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New insights on pleural fluid formation: potential translational targets

  • Pleural Diseases and Mesothelioma (G Lee, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Pulmonology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pleural effusion is a very common clinical problem associated with a multitude of different underlying conditions, including infection, heart failure, and cancer. Current treatments for pleural effusion often aim at symptom relief rather than at treating its underlying cause. Recent investigations have provided new insights into the mechanisms of fluid accumulation in the pleural space and hence hope for clinical translation of the novel therapy to stop fluid formation. Here, we discuss the major mechanistic findings of recent basic, translational, and clinical studies that have aimed at tackling the management and the pathobiology of the most common types of pleural effusions. In addition, we analyze the current and potential future uses of these novel data in the management of patients with pleural effusion.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lung Carcinogenesis Group, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) and Institute for Lung Biology and Disease (iLBD), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Max-Lebsche-Platz 31, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Malamati Vreka, Laura V. Klotz & Georgios T. Stathopoulos

  2. Asklepios Fachkliniken München-Gauting, Gauting, Germany

    Malamati Vreka, Laura V. Klotz & Georgios T. Stathopoulos

  3. Helmholtz Zentrum München, Oberschleißheim, Germany

    Malamati Vreka, Laura V. Klotz & Georgios T. Stathopoulos

  4. Laboratory for Molecular Respiratory Carcinogenesis, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

    Malamati Vreka, Laura V. Klotz & Georgios T. Stathopoulos

  5. Biomedical Sciences Research Building, 2nd floor, Room B40, 1 Asklepiou Str., University Campus, 26504, Rio, Greece

    Georgios T. Stathopoulos

Authors
  1. Malamati Vreka
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  2. Laura V. Klotz
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  3. Georgios T. Stathopoulos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georgios T. Stathopoulos.

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Malamati Vreka, Laura V. Klotz, and Georgios T. Stathopoulos each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Pleural Diseases and Mesothelioma

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Vreka, M., Klotz, L.V. & Stathopoulos, G.T. New insights on pleural fluid formation: potential translational targets. Curr Pulmonol Rep 5, 35–39 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13665-016-0135-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13665-016-0135-y

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