title: [Evaluation of atrial natriuretic peptide in differentiating benign and malignant pleural effusion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the value of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in differentiating benign and malignant pleural effusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Direct radioimmunoassay was used to detect ANP of pleural effusion and serum in 30 tuberculous and 26 cancerous pleural effusion patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ANP in tuberculous and cancerous pleural effusion were (75 +/- 9) ng/L, (157 +/- 45) ng/L respectively, and significant difference was found (P < 0.001). The ANP of tuberculous pleural effusion was apparently lower [(75 +/- 9) ng/L] than serum [(170 +/- 37) ng/L], and significant difference was also found (P < 0.001). The ratio of ANP of pleural effusion to that of serum were 0.47 +/- 0.17, 0.99 +/- 0.46 respectively in tuberculous and cancerous pleural effusion patients. The sensitivity of ANP was 81% and specificity 100% in diagnosing malignant pleural effusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Detecting ANP of pleural effusion is one of important methods for differentiating benign and malignant pleural effusion.
authors.affiliation: The People's Hospital of Wulian County, Shandong 262300.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor