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Low density lipoproteins and immunoglobulins in human pleural effusions.

Pleural effusions in patients with bacterial pleurisy contain low density lipoproteins (33 per cent of the blood serum LDL-concentration on average) but almost no very-low density lipoproteins (about 1 percent of the blood serum VLDL-concentration on average). Immunoglobulins are present in large amounts forming a series declining from the IgG (70 per cent of the blood serum concentration, found in effusions) to the IgM (50 per cent of the blood serum concentration). The observations are discussed in relation to morphological aspects of molecular transport through the capillary wall, and the consequences of the LDL- and IgL-accumulation in pleural fluids are briefly discussed.

Cholesterol↗

Pleural effusion.

Pleural effusion unassociated with other radiologic evidence of disease is a challenging diagnostic problem. With small effusion, only silhouetting of the diaphragm may be noted. A lateral decubitus view will often be helpful. After a careful history, physical examination and selected hematologic studies, diagnostic thoracentesis is indicated. The following determinations on the fluid may be useful: color, character, protein, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose, amylase and cytology. Pleural biopsy may be helpful with tuberculosis and malignancy.

Adult↗

Malignant pleural effusion.

Pleural effusion is a frequent complication of malignant disease. With a realization of pathophysiological mechanisms, symptomatology, and specific care needs of patients, the nurse can make appropriate assessments and provide thorough and essential care to improve patient outcome.

Humans↗

Myelomatous pleural effusion.

Pleural effusion due to myelomatous involvement is rare. We are describing such a case who also had soft tissue extension from iliac bone with congestive heart failure.

Biopsy, Fine-Needle↗

Pleural effusion.

Pleural disease remains a commonly encountered clinical problem for both general physicians and chest specialists. This review focuses on the investigation of undiagnosed pleural effusions and the management of malignant and parapneumonic effusions. New developments in this area are also discussed at the end of the review. It aims to be evidence based together with some practical suggestions for practising clinicians.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Teratoma masquerading as catamenial pleural effusion.

Pleural effusion is a common clinical entity in medical practice. We report a case wherein extensive investigations failed to yield a diagnosis and medical management including repeated thoracocentesis left the effusion refractory. The patient, a 26 years lady, gave a definite history of catamenial dry cough and wheeze. The mystery was unraveled following exploratory thoracotomy when a giant mediastinal teratomatous cyst with luteinized ovarian tissue was discovered and removed, leading to eventual cure for the patient.

Adult↗

Pleural sclerosis for the treatment of pneumothorax and pleural effusion.

Pleural sclerosis is indicated to obliterate the pleural space when one wants to prevent the recurrence of a spontaneous pneumothorax or the reaccumulation of a pleural effusion. Although many different agents ranging from antibiotics to antiseptics to antineoplastics to talc have been advocated, none is ideal. It is interesting that in the era when we are mapping the human genome, the agent most commonly used for pleurodesis is talc. Talc is very inhomogeneous, and the mechanisms by which it produces pleurodesis are unknown. In this review we will discuss the theory and mechanism of pleurodesis, the indications and contraindications for it, the advantages and disadvantages of the agents presently used for it, and our recommendations for the procedure.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

[Effects of pleural effusion].

Pleural effusion (PE) can change the equilibrium between volume of thoracic cavity and volume of intrathoracic structures, and it can disturb the function of respiratory system, heart, and diaphragm. PE alters scanty the pulmonary gas exchange, but it provokes restrictive changes in pulmonary function proportionally to fluid volume, increase thoracic diameters, and decrease lung compliance. PE can originate a syndrome similar to cardiac tamponade. Elevate intrapleural pressure increase intrapericardic pressure and this disturb the cardiac chambers filling, specially right chambers, and decrease cardiac output. Large PE can invert the diaphragm inducing paradoxical movement that origin a reduction of alveolar ventilation. All these alterations improve with drainage of the PE. We think that PE must always be drained, specially if respiratory failure is present.

Humans↗

Effects of tetracycline hydrochloride on pleurae in dogs with induced pleural effusion.

Pleural effusion was induced in 12 dogs by ligation of the cranial vena cava. Pleurodesis was attempted by injecting a solution of tetracycline hydrochloride into the pleural space of 8 dogs (4 dogs, 25 mg/kg of body weight; 4 dogs, 50 mg/kg) via bilateral thoracostomy tubes. In both groups, tetracycline was diluted in 40 ml of normal saline solution and 10 ml of 1% lidocaine before injection. Half of the solution (25 ml) was instilled in each hemithorax. Four control dogs were treated in the same manner with a solution of normal saline and lidocaine. Daily pleural fluid production was measured after the attempted pleurodesis. Thirty days after administration of the solution, each dog was euthanatized and necropsied. Surface area of pleural adhesions was measured. Tissues from regions of pleural adhesions and areas of parietal and visceral pleura not involved in adhesions were analyzed histologically. Formation of pleural fluid stopped in all but 1 control dog within 48 hours after injection of solution. This dog effused throughout the study. The resolution of effusion was not significantly (P less than 0.05) different between the tetracycline-treated dogs and the control group. Although diffuse pleural adhesions were not induced in any of the dogs, significantly (P less than 0.0027) more surface area of lung was adhered in dogs treated with the higher dose of tetracycline.

Animals↗

The diagnostic usefulness of tumour markers CEA and CA-125 in pleural effusion.

Pleural effusion is a common diagnostic problem. The analysis of serum and pleural fluid for tumour markers is widely used as a diagnostic aid in clinical practice. The aim of the present study was to determine the usefulness of simultaneous quantification of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA-125) in distinction of malignant from benign effusion. Data from a total of 78 patients including 53 patients with benign and 25 patients with malignant effusion was evaluated. The cut-off values for differentiating benign from malignant effusions were determined using results obtained from patients with known benign effusions (mean + 2 SD, 95% confidence interval). The cut-off for CEA and CA-125 were 5.1 ng/ml and 1707 IU/ml respectively. CEA assay in pleural fluid had an acceptable sensitivity and good specificity of 64% and 98% respectively. CA-125 had a sensitivity of 36% and specificity of 94%. The combination of the two tumour markers gave a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 92.4%. We suggest a good clinical strategy may be to begin with CEA measurement (assay specificity 98%); if CEA is below the cut-off value (negative), CA-125 could then be measured to improve the sensitivity of detection of malignant effusions. However, measurement of these tumour markers is not cost effective from the point of view that it does not give information on the type of malignancy present. The latter has to be determined either by histological or cytological study.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Pleuroscopy in patients with pleural effusion and pleural masses.

We performed diagnostic pleuroscopy in 66 patients with pleural effusion and in 14 with pleural masses. The findings were diagnostic in 76 patients (95%). Pleural metastases were found in 63 patients, primary pleural or lung tumor in 5, and less common findings in the remainder. Only 1 minor complication occurred, and there were no deaths. Malignant pleural effusion causing dyspnea was managed successfully by talc insufflation under direct vision in 31 of 35 patients. Talc also was used with equal success and without complications in management of recurrent pneumothorax. We conclude that pleuroscopy is a useful diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. It is simple and well tolerated, has a diagnostic yield of 95%, and is virtually free from complications. It provides the best way of insufflating talc for pleurodesis.

Adult↗

Pleural fluid and serum soluble interleukin-2 receptors in pleural effusions.

Pleural fluid and serum soluble Interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) were measured by an enzyme-immunoassay in 13 patients with tuberculous pleurisy, in 28 patients with carcinomatous pleurisy and in 17 transudates from patients with congestive heart failure. Significantly higher values of sIL-2R were observed in exudative than in transudative (mean +/- SEM = 713 +/- 111 U/ml) pleural fluid samples, the highest being found in tuberculous (3777 +/- 501 U/ml) and the intermediate in carcinomatous exudates (1981 +/- 160 U/ml) (p less than 0.0001; on way ANOVA). Serum sIL-2R were significantly higher in carcinomatous and transudative groups than in age- and sex- matched controls (p less than 0.002; one way ANOVA), while there was no significant difference between the tuberculous group and controls. The pleural/serum sIL-2R ratio was significantly higher in tuberculous (5.32 +/- 0.60), than in carcinomatous pleurisy (2.67 +/- 0.20) and higher still than in transudates (0.76 +/- 0.10) (p less than 0.001; one way ANOVA). In conclusion, the pleura/serum sIL-2R ratio may be a helpful parameter in differentiating tuberculous from carcinomatous pleurisy and an additional confirmatory one for distinguishing transudates from exudates.

Adult↗

[Differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy by the measurement of cytokine concentration in pleural effusion].

Pleural fluids obtained from 26 patients with tuberculous pleurisy (T-group), 11 with parapneumonic pleurisy (B-group) and 21 with malignant pleurisy (M-group) were tested for their biologic parameters and cytokine concentrations. 1) The average age of T-group was over 10 years lower than that of M-group with a statistically significant difference. 2) The average CRP value of B-group and the positivity on PPD skin test of T-group were higher than those of the other groups, respectively. 3) Yellowish pleural fluids were mainly observed in T- and B-group, while bloody pleural fluids were mostly seen in M-group with a statistically significant difference. The average total protein amount and adenosine deaminase value in pleural fluid significantly increased in T-group. The percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocytes showed a significant increase in B-group, while lymphocytes significantly increased in T-group with a statistically significant difference. 4) Although no significant difference in concentrations of IL-1 beta, IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in serum was noticed among the three groups, the average concentrations of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in pleural fluid in T-group were significantly higher than those in the other groups. 5) TNF-alpha-mRNA of mononuclear cells in pleural fluid was strongly expressed in 3 out of 11 patients of T-group, while no expression was observed in 6 patients of M-group. In conclusion, the measurement of concentrations of two kinds of cytokines in pleural fluid, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, may be clinically useful for the differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy from parapneumonic pleurisy and malignant pleurisy.

Adult↗

T-helper type 1/T-helper type 2 balance in malignant pleural effusions compared to tuberculous pleural effusions.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Malignant and tuberculous pleurisies are two major causes of lymphocyte-dominant pleurisy. Several studies have already reported that tuberculous pleurisy is a T-helper type 1(Th1)-dominant disease. In this study, we sought to examine the Th1/T-helper type 2 (Th2) balance, especially focusing on the polarizing status of T-cells to Th1/Th2 in malignant pleural effusions by measuring cytokines in pleural effusions and by evaluating the polarizing status of T-cells on the point of stimulation with interleukin (IL)-12 and/or IL-18. Furthermore, we evaluated inhibitors of interferon (IFN)-gamma production in effusions to rule out the possibility of direct inhibition of T-cell polarization. PATIENTS: Effusion samples were collected from 19 patients with malignant pleurisy caused by lung cancer and from 7 patients with tuberculous pleurisy. MEASUREMENTS: Concentrations of pleural fluid IFN-gamma, IL-12, and IL-4 were measured. IFN-gamma production of T-cells enriched from malignant pleural effusions in the presence of IL-12 and/or IL-18 was also examined. We further compared the inhibitory activity of malignant pleural effusions against IFN-gamma production and analyzed the expression of T-cell immunoglobulin mucin, mucin domain (Tim-3), a Th1-specific molecule in pleural fluid T-cells. RESULTS: Although malignant pleural effusions showed low levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines and ratios of IFN-gamma and IL-12 to IL-4 were low, isolated T-cells produced a significant level of IFN-gamma in the presence of IL-12 and IL-18. Soluble factors were not found to inhibit IFN-gamma production in malignant pleural effusions. In tuberculous pleural effusion, ratios of IFN-gamma and IL-12 to IL-4 were significantly higher, and T-cells showed the expression of Tim-3 messenger RNA. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that T-cells in the malignant pleural effusions are mainly naïve or not definitely polarized to Th1. Moreover, malignant tumor does not actively distort the cytokine condition through production of soluble inhibitors within effusions. The present study indicates that antitumor immunity may be enhanced by restored IFN-gamma activity through combination of IL-12 and IL-18, and that it will lead to new therapies for malignant effusion.

Aged↗

The sonographic features and implications of fetal pleural effusions.

Pleural fluid was detected by ultrasound in three fetuses as an anechoic area surrounding the echogenic fetal lung. In one fetus the underlying lung was small, immobile and of abnormal contour; death occurred in the neonatal period and the lung was found to be hypoplastic. In two other fetuses the lungs appeared sonographically normal, being mobile with normal contours. Both survived, one following spontaneous intra-uterine resolution of the effusion and the other after early neonatal intervention prompted by the antenatal diagnosis. Sonography can detect pleural fluid in utero and may permit differentiation between normal underlying lung and pulmonary hypoplasia. We recommend serial scanning to detect early adverse effects of pleural effusion upon the fetus and to plan management changes.

Adult↗

Yellow nails, lymphedema and pleural effusion. Treatment of chronic pleural effusion with pleuroperitoneal shunting.

Pleural effusion secondary to lymphedema may be chronic, symptomatic and refractory to treatment, occasionally requiring invasive and painful procedures such as chemical pleurodesis, open pleural abrasion or pleurectomy to achieve control of the effusion and gain symptomatic relief. We report a patient with yellow nail syndrome and chronic pleural effusion successfully treated with pleuroperitoneal shunting.

Aged↗