The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of epithelial neutrophil-activating peptide (ENA)-78 in pleural effusions, as well as the chemoattractant activity of pleural ENA-78 on neutrophils. Pleural effusion and serum samples were collected from 75 patients who presented to the respiratory institute (19 with malignant pleural effusion, 21 with tuberculous pleural effusion, 18 with i...

BACKGROUND Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) plays a crucial role in Mycobacterium tuberculosis induced pleural responses. Interleukin (IL)-33 up-regulates the production of IFN-γ. We aimed to identify whether an association between pleural IL-33 levels and tuberculous pleurisy exists and determine its diagnostic value. METHODS Pleural IL-33, ST2 (a receptor of IL-33), adenosine deaminase (ADA), and IFN-γ...

BACKGROUND Many patients with pneumonia develop pleural effusions. Pleural fluid vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are known to be elevated in complicated parapneumonic effusion and seem to play a major role in the fibrotic process in the pleura. OBJECTIVES To test whether VEGF levels in pleural effusions of infectious origin correlate with the residual pleural thickening. ME...

BACKGROUND CT plays a valuable role in assessment of patients with a wide variety of diseases of the pleura, and pulmonologists should be aware of the significance of different CT findings for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pleural diseases. METHODS 155 patients with pleural disease who had undergone CT scans of the lungs and thorax before treatment were enrolled. We retro...

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the oldest and commonest infectious diseases also known as “master of Death”. Pulmonary TB (PTB) and TB with pleural effusion remains a diagnostic challenge. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an enzyme of purine catabolism which is an inexpensive and easy test in early routine evaluation of patients with pleural effusion. Aim: To assess the diagnostic level of ADA in TB p...

BACKGROUND Diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis (TB) using routinely available diagnostic methods is challenging due to the paucibacillary nature of the disease. Histopathology and pleural tissue TB culture involves an invasive procedure which requires expertise and appropriate equipment, both often unavailable in many health units. Xpert MTB/Rif test has been widely evaluated in sputum specimens ...

STUDY OBJECTIVES The goals of this study were to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive accuracy of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET-FDG) imaging in detecting metastatic disease involvement of pleura and/or presence of malignant pleural effusion in patients with proven lung cancer. We wanted to compare efficacy of PET-FDG imaging to CT scanning in differ...