title: Diagnostic value of lactoferrin analysis in pleural effusions.
abstract: Lactoferrin was analysed with an ELISA in pleural effusions from 21 patients with malignant exudative effusions (15 carcinomas and 6 mesotheliomas), 12 patients with non-malignant exudative effusions of unknown aetiology, 11 patients with transudative effusions due to congestive heart failure, 12 patients with exudative effusions secondary to infection, and 2 patients with tuberculous effusions. Median pleural fluid lactoferrin was 133 micrograms/l (range 25-435) in carcinomas, 55 micrograms/l (23-185) in mesotheliomas, 198 micrograms/l (31-530) in non-malignant exudates, 68 micrograms/l (17-205) in transudates, 1815 micrograms/l (1380-2050) in infectious exudates and 107 micrograms/l (88-125) in tuberculosis. Due to a wide overlap between the various groups pleural fluid lactoferrin appears to be of limited value in the routine diagnostic evaluation of non-infectious pleural effusions, but seems to separate infectious exudates from non-infectious exudates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine P, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Graudal
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hegnhøj
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galløe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000209:etiology; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D007781:Lactoferrin