Immunofluorescent Studies Electron Microscopy (EM)
Immunofluorescent stains of
the pleura should be done
if the working diagnosis is lupus. Drug induced lupus and lupus
are the only diseases where
immune complexes can be demonstrated in the pleura. Send one good
specimen in saline
immediately to the Immunology Laboratory.
I have never found electron microscopy (EM) to be very useful. We
switched to paraformalin
primarily to have that option. It may be useful in mesothelioma
and viral diseases.