78518-8

LOINC code 78518-8 identifies "Cholesterol [Moles/volume] in Pericardial fluid". Measuring cholesterol in pericardial fluid is used to diagnose cholesterol pericarditis, an uncommon form of pericardial disease of unknown pathophysiology, that is characterized by chronic relapsing, usually large, pericardial effusions that are distinctive due to a high level of cholesterol. The condition is usually idiopathic, but can be associated with various systemic diseases such as hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis, among others. Complications such as cardiac tamponade and chronic constrictive pericarditis are relatively rare. [PMID: 16041969] Cholesterol pericarditis a special type of pericardial effusion rich in LDL-cholesterol, that may form masses along with debris and fibrin, crystallizing over time and depositing in the pericardium, leading to pericarditis. In patients with this form of pericarditis, pericardial LDL-cholesterol levels are higher than those in the plasma, while in healthy individuals, they are lower.

This code measures Cholesterol in Pericard fld. It belongs to the CHEM class in the LOINC classification.

LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes) is a universal standard for identifying laboratory and clinical observations. It is maintained by the Regenstrief Institute and used worldwide for health data exchange.