Table 1.

Blood tests and pleural fluid tests at admission to our department.

Laboratory tests (blood samples)	Reference values (range)
Platelets	1,231,000/mcl (v.n.: 150,000–450,000)
Leukocytes	22.030/mcl (v.n. 3600–10,500)
D- dimer	2.91 mcg/mL FEU (v.n. < 0.5)
PCR	24.41 mg/dL (v.n. < 0.5)
Procalcitonin	3.09 ng/mL (v.n. < 0.05)
ALT	152 U/L (v.n. < 55)
Laboratory tests (pleural fluid)	Values (range)
Aspect	Turbid
Color	Orange
pH	7
Leukocytes	1.488 (< 250 transudate)
Proteins	37 g/L (< 30 transudate)
LDH	1.978 (< 200 transudate)