What condition is known to produce a transudative pleural effusion?

Cirrhosis is known to produce a transudative pleural effusion primarily due to increased hydrostatic pressure within the hepatic portal system and decreased production of albumin by the liver. This results in an imbalance in oncotic pressure, leading to fluid accumulation in the pleural space. Transudative effusions are typically characterized by a low protein content and low specific gravity, distinguishing them from exudative effusions, which are associated with inflammatory conditions like pneumonia or malignancies, such as Kaposi's sarcoma and mesothelioma. In cirrhosis, particularly when associated with portal hypertension, such effusions often occur as part of the overall picture of systemic complications related to liver dysfunction.