[Hydrothorax in absence of ascites: an unusual complication of hepatic cirrhosis with portal hypertension].

AIM: Authors, describing a clinical case of hepatic hydrothorax in absence of ascites, analyse the disease physiopathology and their therapeutic options. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Case report of a mixed aethiology (HCV and alcohol) hepatic cirrhosis, with pleural effusion, without ascites. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic hydrothorax without ascites is an uncommon complication of cirrhosis with portal hypertension. Treatment could be pharmacological, with diuretics administration, or operating. A simple and cheap method is thoracentesis. If hydrothorax relapses, most effective method is transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.