Pleural EffusionNCT05759117
Prospective Evaluation of Patients With Pleural Effusion
An observational study of Pleural Effusion, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 2 sites in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Pleural Effusion
- What is being tested?
- thoracentesis
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- How many people
- 1,000 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesHong Kong
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2022to 31 Mar 2027
- How long will I take part?
- 1 Month
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Patients who have pleural effusion and will undergo thoracentesis for pleural fluid sampling
Who may be able to join
- Patients hospitalized for pleural effusion.
- Pleural tapping will be performed for pleural fluid analysis.
- Aged 18 years old or above
Who cannot join
- Failed to obtain informed consent due to the patient's refusal or cognitive impairment
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hong Kong2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Ka Pang Chan, MBChB, 852 3505 3396, chankapang@gmail.com
David SC Hui, MD, 852 2632 3128, dschui@cuhk.edu.hk
- Recruiting
Prince of Wales Hospital
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Ka Pang Chan, MBChB, 852 3505 3396, chankapang@cuhk.edu.hk
David SC Hui, MD, 852 2632 3128, dschui@cuhk.edu.hk
About this study
Official title: Prospective Evaluation of the Aetiologies, Management and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Pleural Effusion
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.
Read the detailed description
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.
- Conditions
- Pleural Effusion
- Being tested
- thoracentesis
- Medical subject headings
- Pleural Effusion
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
thoracentesisProcedure or surgery
Also called chest drain insertion
A type of pleural procedure that will yield pleural fluid for subsequent analysis
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Pleural effusion | All patients with pleural effusion who will undergo thoracentesis Receives: Procedure: thoracentesis |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Aetiology of pleural effusion
spectrum of aetiology for pleural effusion
Measured: 1 month
Secondary outcomes (2)
Management of pleural effusion
common clinical practice of handling pleural effusion will be evaluated
Measured: 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
Measured: 1 month
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Mar 2023
- Study start1 Sep 2022
- Primary completion31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Pleural EffusionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Chinese University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 1,000 participants (estimated)
- Target duration
- 1 Month
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ka Pang Chan, Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- David SC Hui, MD, Study director, Chinese University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05759117
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ProspectivePleuralEffusion
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Feb 2023
- Last updated
- 1 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Prospective Evaluation of the Aetiologies, Management and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Pleural Effusion
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05759117
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ProspectivePleuralEffusion
- Conditions
- Pleural Effusion
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 1,000 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 8 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
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.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Target follow-up
- 1 Month
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Pleural effusion | – | Procedure: thoracentesisAll patients with pleural effusion who will undergo thoracentesis |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Patients who have pleural effusion and will undergo thoracentesis for pleural fluid sampling
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Patients hospitalized for pleural effusion.
- Pleural tapping will be performed for pleural fluid analysis.
- Aged 18 years old or above
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Failed to obtain informed consent due to the patient's refusal or cognitive impairment
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| thoracentesisAlso: chest drain insertionA type of pleural procedure that will yield pleural fluid for subsequent analysis | Procedure or surgery | Pleural effusion |
Primary outcome
Aetiology of pleural effusion
Time frame: 1 month
spectrum of aetiology for pleural effusion
2 secondary outcomes
Management of pleural effusion
Time frame: 1 month
Prognosis of pleural effusion
Time frame: 1 month
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Pleural Effusion
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Union-LC-MPE Cohort:A Multicenter Cohort Study on Diagnosis and Prognosis of Malignant Pleural Effusion in Lung Cance
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Pneumonia and Pleuropneumonia in Hospitalized Children
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Iodine Starch Test Use in Pleuroperitoneal Leak
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UNC Pleural Fluid Registry
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Active, not recruitingPhase 2
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
David SC Hui, MD study director
Chinese University of Hong Kong
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Pleural Effusion, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 2 sites in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Ka Pang Chan, MBChB (35052211, chankapang@cuhk.edu.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Aetiology of pleural effusion (time frame: 1 month). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Sep 2026.