ABSTRACT
The pH, the PCO2 and the PO2 of pleural liquid in 100 patients in the pneumology unit of the Sfax Hospital been measured. Variations according to etiology have been noticed: 44 tubercular pleurisies have presented an acid pH, a high PCO2 and a low PO2, without variation according of the evolution; 34 cancerous pleurisies were divided as follow: recent pleurisies with alcaline pH, normal PO2 and PCO2; neoplastic pleurisies with developed degree with acid pH, low PO2 and high PCO2; 6 cases of cardiac pleurisies have presented a very high PO2; some other etiologies have been explored (bacterial, viral, cirrhotic, rheumatoid, pancreatic). Afterwards, we have tried to bring out some physio-pathological explanations. At the end of this study, the gazometry of pleural liquid, of easy execution and rapid result, seems to be a useful complementary biological test.
