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Chromosome analysis in pleural effusions. Efficiency of this method in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusions.

Various laboratory methods are being used to acquire diagnosis in pleural effusions. However, about 20% of the effusions cannot be diagnosed reliably. Cytogenetic analysis in pleural effusion is not used routinely, although many numerical and/or structural chromosome abnormalities have been observed in malignant pleural effusions. In this study, a total of the 61 pleural effusion samples, 34 malignant which included 19 diffuse pleural malignant mesothelioma, 15 metastatic malignant pleural effusions and 27 benign, were analyzed by direct chromosome analysis method. To the findings obtained in the study, 85.3% (29/34) of the 34 patients with malignant pleural effusion had numerical and/or structural abnormalities, and 3 of them had no mitosis. The patients who had benign pleural effusion indicated no numerical and/or structural abnormalities. We have concluded that if a pleural effusion cannot be reliably differentiated by the usual laboratory methods and especially malignancy is strongly suspected, cytogenetic analysis can be used to differentiate malignant effusions from benign effusions with a small rate of error, and also it can indicate that more invasive diagnostic procedures are necessary.

Adult↗

Intrapleural streptokinase in the management of malignant multiloculated pleural effusions.

OBJECTIVE: Pleural effusions are a frequent complication of malignancy and cause considerable morbidity from dyspnea. The drainage and control of malignant effusions relieve symptoms and maintain quality of life but these are difficult in patients with multiloculated effusions in whom drainage usually fails. This observational series reports the use of intrapleural streptokinase (IPSK) in the management of malignant multiloculated pleural effusions resistant to standard chest tube drainage. METHODS: Ten consecutive patients with malignant multiloculated pleural effusions, aged 39 to 89 years, were given 250,000-IU doses of IPSK twice daily after failure to drain the effusions with a standard chest tube because of multiloculation and multiseptation, as demonstrated by CT or ultrasound scanning. Outcome was assessed by radiographic improvement and symptom control. RESULTS: All 10 patients responded to between 500,000 and 1,500,000 IU of streptokinase. There was an increase in pleural fluid drained (mean volume+/-SD; pre-IPSK, 843+/-690 mL; post-IPSK, 2,368+/-1,051 mL; p < 0.001, paired t test), and radiographic improvement was seen in all 10 patients. All subjects tolerated the instillation of streptokinase well. One subject required opiate analgesia for transient chest pain, and there were no hemorrhagic or allergic complications. One patient died of unrelated septicemia. CONCLUSIONS: This series suggests that IPSK may be useful in the drainage of malignant multiloculated pleural effusions in patients who fail to drain adequately with a standard chest tube. Malignant pleural effusions should not be considered a contraindication to IPSK.

Adult↗

Use of pleural Tenckhoff catheter to palliate malignant pleural effusion.

Malignant pleural effusion and its treatment both cause substantial morbidity in patients with advanced neoplastic disease. We hypothesized that this morbidity might be ameliorated by placement of an indwelling Tenckhoff catheter into the involved pleural space. Catheters were placed in 9 patients under local anesthesia. Three patients underwent bilateral catheter placement, for a total of 12 catheters placed. Four of the 9 patients had undergone previous unsuccessful pleurodesis (using tetracycline or bleomycin). Whenever it became symptomatic, the malignant pleural effusion was simply drained into a calibrated container and the volume recorded. Patients were followed on a weekly basis until their death (mean, 16 weeks). The mean drainage was 477 mL per 24 hours (range, 200 to 1,100 mL). No pleural space infections occurred, although local cellulitis developed in 3 patients around the catheter exit site; all patients responded to oral antibiotics. There were no significant changes in either the serum albumin or total protein levels. No catheters malfunctioned and no patients required further treatment or hospitalization for symptoms of malignant pleural effusion. We conclude that this technique may reduce the morbidity stemming from malignant pleural effusion and its treatment by allowing patients to conveniently and painlessly drain the effusion at home when it becomes symptomatic. This technique may provide superior palliation in patients with malignant pleural effusion.

Adult↗

Efficacious pleurodesis with OK-432 and doxorubicin against malignant pleural effusions.

Malignant pleural effusion develops frequently in patients with advanced lung cancer. Chemical pleurodesis is the most effective palliative treatment for these patients. The efficacy of pleurodesis using both OK-432, a preparation of Streptococcus pyogenes, and doxorubicin for 20 patients with cytology-proven malignant pleural effusion associated with lung cancer was evaluated. After complete removal of pleural effusion, OK-432 and 30 mg of doxorubicin were injected via an inserted chest tube. Treatment was terminated when the volume of daily drainage reached <200 mL. If the daily volume remained >200 mL, an additional OK-432 was administered every 3 days. In total, 16 patients (80%) revealed a complete response, two patients (10%) revealed a partial response, and no response was seen in two patients. Eighteen patients with complete or partial responses did not show subsequent reaccumulation of pleural effusion after pleurodesis. The chest tube remained in place for an average of 6.4 days, draining a mean of 2,854 mL. The main side-effects were fever and pain that were easily treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Pleurodesis using both OK-432 and doxorubicin showed high efficacy for controlling malignant pleural effusions caused by lung cancer.

Adult↗

Cytology of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate in pleural effusions.

Malignant pleural effusions due to prostatic carcinoma are rare. We examined the cytologic and clinical presentations of 14 malignant pleural effusions caused by prostate cancer. These cases represented 2.3% of all positive pleural effusions at our institution. All patients (n = 10) had high grade, high stage tumors, including three with small cell anaplastic carcinoma. Three cases had clinically documented metastases to pleura, and in two cases, metastases were documented at autopsy. Most tumor cells had large nucleoli and were arranged in small, loosely cohesive groups. Fluids due to the small cell type of prostate carcinoma often contained a mixture of cells similar to those seen in small cell carcinoma of other sites such as the lung, as well as cells resembling the more typical type of prostate cancer. Prostatic specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase were positive in less than 50% of these malignant effusions. We conclude that prostatic carcinoma in pleural effusions occurs most commonly in high grade, high stage tumors and has a characteristic cytologic appearance. Negative staining for PSA and PAP does not rule out a prostatic source for malignant cells in effusions.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha C-C chemokine in parapneumonic pleural effusions.

Parapneumonic pleural effusions are associated with the presence of a variety of inflammatory cells whose influx into the pleural space is attributed to the presence of inflammatory cytokines. Macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), an important mononuclear chemokine, plays a critical role in pulmonary parenchymal inflammatory disease, but its role in the recruitment and activation of mononuclear phagocytes in the pleural space is unknown. In this study we demonstrate that complicated parapneumonic pleural effusions (empyema) and uncomplicated parapneumonic pleural effusions contain significantly (P < .001) higher levels of MIP-1alpha with higher numbers of mononuclear cells when compared with effusions resulting from malignancy and congestive heart failure. The MIP- 1alpha was biologically active and contributed 43% and 37% of the mononuclear chemotactic activity of complicated and uncomplicated parapneumonic pleural fluids, respectively. In vitro, human mesothelial cells, when stimulated with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), produced MIP-1alpha. Northern blot analysis confirmed that both endogenous (IL-1beta or TNF-alpha) and exogenous (LPS) factors induce MIP-1alpha expression in mesothelial cells. Supernatants from activated mesothelial cells demonstrated chemotactic activity for mononuclear cells. This activity was blocked by MIP-1alpha antibody, indicating that the MIP-1alpha released was biologically active. We conclude that in parapneumonic pleural effusions, MIP-1alpha plays a major but not exclusive role in the recruitment of mononuclear leukocytes from the vascular compartment to the pleural space, and pleural mesothelial cells by production of MIP-1alpha actively participate in this process.

Cell Count↗

[The value of erythromycin pleurodesis in the treatment of malignant pleural effusions].

Malignant pleural effusion is a frequent complication of patients with advanced malignant tumors. For many patients suffering from malignant pleural effusion that increases rapidly and may be life threatening, it is important to control the effusions. To investigate the value of erythromycin as a pleural sclerosant, a dose of 1 g erythromycin in 30 ml of 5% glucose was injected into the pleural cavity of 26 patients with malignant pleural effusion. The results were assessed by Miller's standards. After treatment, numerous adhesions were present in 15 cases; Pleural effusion reduced in 7 patients, and no effect was noted in 4 patients. The total response rate was 84.6%, and there were no severe side-effects. The erythromycin-induced pleurodesis is probably the result of induced chemical inflammation in the locality. This study suggests that erythromycin is a useful pleural sclerosant.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Approach to the evaluation and management of pleural effusions].

A pleural effusions arise as a complication of many different diseases basically they could be divided to: nonmalignant, malignant, and paramalignant effusions. This article is actually a review of etiological moments, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, the characteristics of pleural fluid, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of pleural effusions. The aim of the article was to point to the clear principals which should be respected in situations of making the diagnosis, evaluation of prognosis and making plans for the treatment of pleural effusions, particular in cases of malignant pleural effusions.

Humans↗

Delayed effusive pericarditis and recurrent pleural effusion after radiation treatment for Hodgkin's disease responsive to per os doxycycline.

We present our experience with a patient with effusive pericarditis and recurrent pleural effusion that first developed 23 yr after radiation treatment for the nodular sclerosis type of Hodgkin's disease. Extensive diagnostic work up including pericardial and pleural biopsy, excluded any other cause (than radiation) of the recurrent pleural effusion. Pericarditis and pleural effusion were not controlled with regimens including steroid and non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents. The fluid collections improved only with per os doxycycline (100 mg twice a day). Four episodes of recurrent pleural effusions were also controlled with per os doxycycline. Although the concentration of doxycycline in the pericardial and pleural fluid when given orally is smaller compared with that achieved by direct installation of the agent, the fact that all episodes of pleural effusion improved with an agent commonly used for pleurodesis is intriguing.

Administration, Oral↗

Eosinophilic pleural effusion, peripheral eosinophilia, pleural thickening, and hepatosplenomegaly in sarcoidosis.

In this atypical case of sarcoidosis with an unusual combination of clinical and laboratory findings, a 32-year-old male presented with a 3-month history of thoracic pain complicated with dyspnea. Laboratory tests, chest radiography, and CT scans of the chest and abdomen revealed eosinophilia of pleural effusion and blood, pleural thickening, hepatosplenomegaly, and bronchiolitis obliterans. In cases such as this, in which pleural fluid eosinophilia is accompanied by peripheral eosinophilia and splenohepatomegaly, underlying malignancies such as Hodgkin lymphoma should be ruled out. A biopsy of the mediastinal lymph nodes suggested noncaseating epithelioid granulomas, characteristic of sarcoidosis. The patient underwent prednisolone therapy for 1 year and is doing well 2 years after initial diagnosis.

Adult↗

Infection of mesothelial cells with human herpes virus 8 in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with Kaposi's sarcoma, Castleman's disease, and recurrent pleural effusions.

Recurrent pleural effusions are common complications of hospitalized patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and may pose difficult diagnostic dilemmas. A common cause of recurrent pleural effusions in up to 30% of HIV-seropositive patients is pulmonary involvement by Kaposi's sarcoma, a human herpesvirus 8 (HHV 8)-related neoplasm. The pathogenesis of these effusions is unclear. These recurrent effusions, although benign, have shown significant mesothelial atypia/reactive changes of uncertain etiology. We attempted to evaluate these effusions morphologically and molecularly for the presence of HHV 8, with particular attention to mesothelial cells. All recurrent pleural effusions, as defined by any effusion tapped for cytological examination on more than two occasions, in HIV-positive patients at the National Institutes of Health were examined from 1998 to the present. Cases were stratified according to patients with and without histologically confirmed HHV 8 disease manifestations. Five patients with HHV 8 diseases (four with disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma and one with Castleman's disease) were identified. As a control group, five effusions from HIV-seropositive patients without known HHV 8-related diseases were identified. Cytological examination of effusions in patients with HHV 8-related diseases demonstrated atypical/markedly reactive mesothelial cells accompanied by a polymorphous background of lymphocytes. Molecular studies for B- and T-cell clonality in microdissected whole samples showed no definitive clones in these cases. Conversely, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies for the HHV 8 virus was positive in these samples. PCR studies on pure populations of microdissected mesothelial cells from the HHV 8-related effusions were positive for HHV 8 sequences, whereas those from HIV patients with non-HHV 8 related diseases were negative. Immunohistochemistry for HHV 8 (monoclonal antibody to latent nuclear antigen (LNA-1; ORF-73) on cellblock material demonstrated scattered positive mesothelial cells in three of the five cases of HHV 8-associated effusions. HHV 8 has been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma and primary effusion lymphoma. Mesothelial cells in recurrent pleural effusions from patients with Kaposi's sarcoma and Castleman's disease appear to be infected with HHV 8. Additional studies need to be done to define the role of mesothelial cell infection in the pathogenesis of these HHV 8-associated effusions and define the prognostic significance.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Alkaline phosphatase in pleural effusions.

BACKGROUND: Pleural effusion (PF) is a common clinical presentation in several diseases. Various parameters from pleural fluid have been studied to identify the cause. The diagnostic value of these parameters varies. The present study was carried out to evaluate the value of alkaline phosphatase concentration in the pleural effusions as a diagnostic tool. METHODS: One hundred and one patients with pleural effusion admitted over a period of two years were studied. The diagnosis was confirmed by pleural biopsy and cytology for malignant cells. RESULTS: Pleural fluid alkaline phosphatase levels of more than 75 mg/dl was found in exudative effusions and less than 75 mg/dl in transudative ones. But it did not differentiate tubercular pleural effusions from other exudative ones. CONCLUSION: Pleural fluid alkaline phosphatase of >75 mg/dl is a useful biochemical marker to suggest exudative effusions.

Adult↗

Role of pleural fluid cholesterol in differentiating transudative from exudative pleural effusion.

BACKGROUND: Pleural fluid cholesterol has been reported to be useful in distinguishing between transudative and exudative pleural effusion. However, the difference in lipid profile between tubercular and non-tubercular pleural effusion has not been studied. METHODS: The lipid profile of pleural fluid in 50 patients with exudative (25 tubercular and 25 non-tubercular) and 25 with transudative effusion was studied. The diagnosis was based on clinical criteria and/or a positive diagnosis from another site. RESULTS: The criteria that best identified an exudative pleural effusion were pleural fluid cholesterol > or = 60 mg/dl, pleural fluid to serum cholesterol ratio > or = 0.4, pleural fluid triglyceride > or = 40 mg/dl and pleural fluid to serum triglyceride ratio > or = 0.3. Pleural fluid cholesterol had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 100% for exudates with an accuracy of 92%. Pleural fluid to serum cholesterol ratio had a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 84%. These results were superior to the criteria proposed by Light et al. (sensitivity 98% and specificity 80%). CONCLUSION: Pleural fluid cholesterol estimation is an effective and cost-efficient method of differentiating exudative from transudative pleural effusion. The lipid profile does not help in diagnosing tubercular effusion.

Adult↗

Lipoprotein electrophoresis differentiation of chylous and nonchylous pleural effusions in dogs and cats and its correlation with pleural effusion triglyceride concentration.

Pleural effusions from 23 dogs and 25 cats hospitalized between November 1986 and April 1987 at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (VHUP) were classified as chylous (chylomicrons present) or nonchylous (chylomicrons absent) by the presence or absence, respectively, of a chylomicron band on lipoprotein electrophoresis gels of the effusions. Triglyceride concentrations, cholesterol concentrations, and cholesterol/triglyceride (C/T) ratios were compared between the chylous and nonchylous groups in each species. Cholesterol concentrations were not significantly different between chylous and nonchylous effusions in both dogs and cats. Cholesterol/triglyceride ratios of less than 1 were present in all dogs and cats with chylous effusions; however, 12% of dogs with nonchylous effusions and 50% of cats with nonchylous effusions also had a C/T ratio less than 1. Triglyceride concentrations accurately classified all effusions as chylous or nonchylous in both dogs and cats. Pleural effusions with triglyceride concentrations greater than l00 mg/dl were chylous in all cases, whereas, effusions with triglyceride concentrations less than l00 mg/dl were nonchylous in all cases.

Journal Article↗

[Diagnostic value of the tumor markers TPA-M, CYPFRA 21-1 and CEA in pleural effusion. Prospective comparison of thoracoscopic investigations in patients with pleural effusion].

The diagnostic value of tumour markers in pleural effusion is not yet clearly defined. CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen), CYFRA 21-1 (Cytokeratin 19-Fragment) and TPA-M, a new monoclonal-based radioimmunoassay for TPA (Tissue Polypeptide Antigen), were measured in pleural fluid and sera of 125 consecutive patients who underwent medical thoracoscopy. The group consisted of 79 patients with malignant and 45 with non-malignant pleural effusion and 1 patient without definitive diagnosis, and hence 124 patients were available for assessing the diagnostic value. In pleural fluid based on a specificity of 90% versus benign diseases the sensitivity for CEA was 52.5%; with the maximum achievable specificity of 80% for CYFRA 21-1 the sensitivity was 68% and for TPA-M with 67% the sensitivity was 67%. Based on the cut-off values for these specificities the combined use of the three tumour markers resulted in a sensitivity of 85.7% but with a lower specificity of 59.1%. There is only a limited value for tumour markers in the diagnosis of pleural effusion.

Adult↗

[A study of lung cancer with presence of pleural effusion at the time of thoracotomy--cytologic evaluation of a relatively small amount of pleural effusion and prognosis after removal].

The cytologic evaluation of a relatively small amount of pleural effusion in lung cancer at the time of thoracotomy has not been previously considered, and prognosis after removal has not been clarified. In order to clarify these points, 99 cases of removed lung cancer with presence of pleural effusion at the time of thoracotomy were examined following cytology. Our study was conducted with regard to the amount and nature of pleural effusion, pleural effusion cytology, tumor development and its relation to prognosis. On the basis of this study a formula was developed relating the occurrence rate of cytologically positive pleural effusion with the development of tumor employing multivariate analysis, specifically the multiple regression analysis. 21% of these cases showed cytologically positive pleural effusion, indicating an absence of its correlation to the amount of pleural effusion; the conducting of cytology regardless of the amount of pleural effusion was found to be significant in determining the precise stage. The occurrence rate of cytologically positive squamous cell carcinoma was significantly few compared with those in other cell types. Regarding the pleural effusion of a relatively small amount, the prognosis after removal showed a relatively high three-year survival rate of 32% for those cases with negative pleural metastasis despite the positive showing of pleural effusion cytology, indicating the viability of surgery. From the occurrence rate of cytologically positive pleural effusion (Y) and the degree of pleural metastasis (X1)/the degree of pleural invasion (X2)/the degree of lymph nodes metastasis (X3), the following formula was obtained employing multiple regression analysis: Y = 0.344X1 + 0.050X2 + 0.034X3 + 0.075 (proportion 0.840).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Decreased glucose in RA-cell-positive pleural effusion: correlation of pleural glucose, lactic dehydrogenase and protein concentration to the presence of RA-cells.

A significant correlation between RA-cells in the pleural fluid and lowered concentration of glucose, increased LDH activity and protein content was demonstrated in pleural effusions of diverse etiology. The finding might suggest a common metabolic reaction of the pleura, the mechanism of which remains unexplained at present.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

[Eosinophilic pleural effusion].

Eosinophilic pleural effusion accounts for 5 to 10% of all clear liquid pleurisies. Its pathogenic significance is unclear and its relation to the causative diagnosis of pleural eosinophilia is diversely evaluated. In this study, 86 cases of eosinophilic pleural effusion observed at the Ariana Pneumophthisiology Hospital over a 5-year period are reviewed. At first aspiration, the proportion of pleural fluid eosinophils varied from 12% to 85% (54% on average). Blood eosinophilia was present in 60% of the patients. The main cause of effusion was tuberculosis (39.6%, but many other diseases were observed; despite numerous investigations, no cause could be found in 23.2% of the cases. The discovery of a pleural eosinophilia has an impact on the probable cause of the pleurisy, and this can be determined by applying Bayes' rule. The probability of tuberculous being the cause falls from 70.3% for clear liquid pleurisies generally to 44.6% for eosinophilic pleurisy. The probability of cancer as a cause falls from 4.5% to 0.66%; whereas that of "idiopathic" pleurisy rises from 13.5% to 59.56%. These findings are concordant with Adelman's conclusions. In other words, the finding of a pleural eosinophilia decreases the probability of tuberculous or malignant pleural effusion and increases the probability of benign or "idiopathic" effusion. Clinicians confronted with an eosinophilic pleural effusion should be particularly careful and accurate since this diagnosis may spare the patient an unnecessary exploratory thoracotomy and an unwarranted antituberculous treatment.

Adolescent↗