title: Effect of an intrathoracic injection of sodium hyaluronic acid on the prevention of pleural thickening in excess fluid of tuberculous thoracic cavity.
abstract: 1. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a hyaluronate-based gel (HAbg) on the prevention of pleural thickening and adhesion in tuberculous pleural effusions (TPE). 2. Fifty-two patients who had accumulated a medium or large volume of tuberculous thoracic fluid, fluid being bound by fibre tissues and a pleura thickened more than 2 mm were divided randomly into two groups. All patients were all given standard treatments with antituberculous drugs. The HAbg was injected into the thoracic cavity in the treatment group (n = 27 patients), whereas normal saline was introduced into the thoracic cavity in the control group (n = 25 patients). Before and after HAbg injection, routine thoracic fluid examinations (including qualitative protein analysis, cell counts and classification of cell types) and protein quantification were performed. A chest radiograph and B-ultrasound were performed and pulmonary function was tested after 2 weeks and 3 months of thoracic fluid absorption. 3. The results show that patients who were treated with the HAbg had a significantly thinner pleura, a lower protein concentration and white blood cell count in the thoracic fluid and a higher forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity compared with patients in the control group. 4. Intrathoracic HAbg can prevent pleural thickening and improve lung function in patients who have a large amount of TPE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhangjing, China.
authors.forename: Ailian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Lanping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Liangchun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010994:Pleura / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D035423:Thoracic Cavity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006820:Hyaluronic Acid