OBJECTIVE The management of parapneumonic effusions in children is controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intrapleural tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in children who require tube thoracostomy for drainage of a complicated parapneumonic effusion. METHODS An observational cohort study was used to compare children who were treated with intr...

The diagnostic accuracy of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in pleural fluid, for differentiating between complicated and noncomplicated parapneumonic pleural effusions (PPE) evaluated prospectively. Seventy patients aged >18 yrs with PPE (36 complicated and 34 noncomplicated) were studied after admission to a tertiary referral teaching hospital. MPO concentration was measured in plasma and pleural fluid ...

The aim is to examine whether the changes in pleural fluid interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 levels were significant in differential diagnosis of childhood pleural effusions. IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in pleural fluids of all 36 patients were measured. The levels of IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 in pleural fluids were statistically significantly higher in the transudate ...

STUDY OBJECTIVES To assess serum amyloid alpha (SAA) pleural fluid levels in parapneumonic effusion (PPE) and to investigate SAA diagnostic performance in PPE diagnosis and outcome. METHODS We studied prospectively 57 consecutive patients with PPE (empyema (EMP), complicated (CPE), and uncomplicated parapneumonic effusion (UPE)). SAA, CRP, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels were evaluated in serum...

abstract  background: at present, differentiation between exudative and transudative pleural  effusion is based solely on laboratory measures and is time-consuming. asimple  bedside method would be of great help to differentiate between these two types of effusions.  we present a new method for this purpose assessed in 46 patients.  methods: standard laboratory tests and our method were tested ...

Pleural effusion is a common complication of systemic and localised disease. 15% to 20% of all exudative pleural effusions remain undiagnosed despite intensive efforts. In exudative pleural effusions, thoracocentesis and closed pleural biopsy are commonly employed investigative modalities to diagnose pleural disease of unknown etiology. It eliminates the need for a diagnostic thoracotomy. Diffe...

Between October 1998 and September 1999, 98 patients with symptomatic exudative lymphocytic pleural effusion were enrolled in our study to evaluated the diagnostic sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The mean age was 53.3 years ranging from 18 to 78 years. There were 61 men and 37 women. Pleural fluid was sent for gram staining, AFB staining, aerobic culture, culture of Mycoba...

Objective: To describe the range of pathology causing pleural eVusions in HIV infected patients with acute respiratory episodes and to attempt to identify whether any associated radiological abnormalities enabled aetiological discrimination. Methods: Prospective study of chest radiographs of 58 consecutive HIV infected patients with pleural eVusion and their microbiological, cytological, and hi...

Objective(s) This study planned to assess the value of PCR IS6110 assay in tissue specimens of needle pleural biopsy in patients suspicious to pleural tuberculosis. Materials and Methods Sixty eight patients with lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion underwent pleural biopsy. Tissue samples were sent for pathologic examination and PCR IS6110 assay. The results of PCR reported as positive/ nega...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE CA-125, an ovarian tumor marker is known to increase in non malignant conditions such as tubercular and non tubercular pleuritis and ascites. We undertook this study to evaluate non-specific rise in CA-125 levels in conditions associated with pleural effusion and ascites and also to understand the mechanism of its secretion. METHODS CA-125 levels in 38 pleural and 46 as...