[Residual pleural thickening in tuberculous pleuritis. Associated factors]].
BACKGROUND
To study the factors related to the development of residual pleural thickening in pleural tuberculosis.


METHODS
We studied 39 patients with tuberculous pleural effusion. A chest X-ray was taken of each patient at the end of treatment. The patients' medical histories, pleural fluid findings and diagnostic chest films were evaluated. Residual pleural thickening was defined as thickening that was visibly greater than 2 mm in the lower side portion of the chest film.


RESULTS
Residual pleural thickening developed in 26% of patients and was found mainly in men (RR = 3.86). In no patients with Löwenstein-Jensen cultures positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis did pleural complications develop.


CONCLUSIONS
Residual pleural thickening is a common complication of tuberculous pleural effusion. Residual pleural thickening in tuberculous pleurisy occurs more often in men and older patients, and in cases in which pleural liquid culture is negative for M. tuberculosis.
Ruiz
E
E
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona.
Alegre
J
J
Alemán
C
C
Vizcaya
S
S
Armadans
L
L
Segura
R M
RM
Andreu
J
J
Iglesias
D
D
Fernández de Sevilla
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*