title: Soluble leukocyte selectin in the analysis of pleural effusions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if soluble leukocyte selectin (sL-selectin) levels in serum and pleural fluid (PF) are an inflammatory marker that differentiates pleural effusion transudates from exudates.
  
  
  METHODS
  sL-selectin PF and serum levels were measured in consecutive patients and compared to established criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary-care military medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic thoracentesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  PF and serum samples were collected during thoracentesis and analyzed separately for sL-selectin levels. Results were compared with clinical diagnosis and established PF criteria including the criteria of Light et al, cholesterol ratio, total bilirubin ratio, and albumin gradient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  sL-selectin levels in PF and serum were determined in 109 patients. By clinical diagnosis, mean +/- SD PF sL-selectin levels were 200.2 +/- 124.3 ng/mL in transudates and 496.8 +/- 379.2 ng/mL in exudates (p < 0.001). By the criteria of Light et al, mean PF sL-selectin levels were 195.7 +/- 105.2 ng/mL in transudates and 448.2 +/- 367.6 ng/mL in exudates (p < 0.001). Mean sL-selectin PF to serum ratios were 0.31 +/- 0.17 in transudates and 0.72 +/- 0.31 in exudates (p < 0.001) by clinical criteria, and 0.31 +/- 0.18 in transudates and 0.64 +/- 0.33 in exudates (p < 0.001) by the criteria of Light et al. No significant difference was noted with serum sL-selectin levels between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  sL-selectin is an inflammatory marker that differentiates transudates from exudates in pleural effusions and is a sensitive indicator for PF analysis.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Disease/Critical Care Service, Department of Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6200, USA. Lynn.Horvath@cen.amedd.army.mil
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gallup
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Worley
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000737:chemistry*; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019041:L-Selectin