An observational study in Pleural Effusion, sponsored by Chinese University of Hong Kong. Recruiting at 2 sites in Hong Kong. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-01.
Sponsored by Chinese University of Hong Kong · Observational
Having a pleural effusion is a common reason for being hospitalized, as it usually requires in-patient care for invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Specific subtypes of pleural effusion may warrant recurrent admissions, a longer hospital stay and consume more healthcare resources. Despite the recent advancement of pleural medicine, better research is increasingly desired to fill the gaps in establishing an early diagnosis and optimal management of pleural effusion from various causes. Local data on different aspects of pleural effusion is also lacking.
The aetiologies of pleural effusion range from cardio-respiratory diseases, malignancy, infection to systemic inflammatory conditions. However, data on the exact incidence of individual causes of pleural effusion is inadequate. Conflicting results on the aetiologies of pleural effusion were shown in several retrospective and prospective studies based in different geographical regions, which may be explained by the different epidemiology of common diseases in the corresponding areas and patients recruited. Despite a common clinical problem, the incidence and aetiology of pleural effusion have not been examined on a population level in Hong Kong. Therefore, a local study is necessary to inform physicians about the disease burden of pleural effusion.
The management of pleural disease can be heterogeneous, as reflected by a recent multi-institutional questionnaire study in Hong Kong. Infrequent updates of international guidelines of pleural medicine, lack of an established registry reflecting the patient burden, procedure load and complications may contribute. Delayed or suboptimal management of pleural diseases can lead to unnecessary invasive procedures, prolonged hospital stays and even higher mortality rates. A local registry should be established to stocktake and understand diagnostic accuracy and complication rates of pleural procedures and reflects the real-life practice by hospital physicians.
This prospective study aims at evaluating the aetiology and management of pleural diseases prospectively. The management by the attending doctors will not be interfered. Recruited patients will be divided into subgroups based on their characteristics for further analysis. The data collected from this study will guide the planning of subsequent research to overcome the knowledge and service gap in managing pleural diseases.
241 studies on the registry are indexed under Pleural Effusion; 50 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 1,000 is above the median of 140 across 93 observational studies indexed under Pleural Effusion.
Browse Pleural Effusion studies →Chinese University of Hong Kong is the lead sponsor of 1,454 studies on the registry; 474 are open to participants now.
Of its 6 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Patients who have pleural effusion and will undergo thoracentesis for pleural fluid sampling
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Failed to obtain due to the patient's refusal or cognitive impairment
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
All patients with pleural effusion who will undergo thoracentesis
Procedure: thoracentesis
A type of pleural procedure that will yield pleural fluid for subsequent analysis
Also known as: chest drain insertion
Aetiology of pleural effusion
spectrum of aetiology for pleural effusion
Time frame: 1 month
Management of pleural effusion
common clinical practice of handling pleural effusion will be evaluated
Time frame: 1 month
Prognosis of pleural effusion
need for hospitalization, pleural procedure, complication rate and time required to establish a diagnosis for patients with pleural effusion will be evaluated
Time frame: 1 month
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
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