title: [Detection of D -dimer in pleural effusion].
abstract: The content of D -dimer in pleural fluid of different causes was examined by the ELISA method in 45 patients. The results were that the contents of D -dimer in both tuberculous and empyema pleural effusions were significantly higher than in malignant pleural effusion (P < 0.01; P < 0.05). D -dimer was positively correlated with lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in pleural fluid (r = 0.4168, P < 0.01). The results suggest that fibrinolytic activities in tuberculous and empyema pleural effusion are much higher than in malignant pleural effusion. The detection of D -dimer in pleural fluid may reflect the extent of pleural inflammation and be helpful in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Hunan Medical University, Changsha 410011.
authors.forename: Y D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000737:chemistry*; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D