Comparison of six biological markers for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis.
OBJECTIVE
We sought a marker to differentiate tuberculous pleural effusions from nontuberculous pleural effusions, which otherwise can be difficult.


METHODS
We studied 55 patients with pleural effusions, 20 (36%) with tuberculous pleuritis and 35 (64%) with a nontuberculous etiology.


RESULTS
Pleural fluid levels of adenosine deaminase, interferon (INF)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-12p40, IL-18, immunosuppressive acidic protein, and soluble IL-2 receptors were measured and were subjected to receiver operating characteristic analysis. INF-gamma had the greatest sensitivity and specificity for tuberculous pleuritis among the six biological markers studied.


CONCLUSIONS
The determination of INF-gamma levels in pleural fluid is the most informative in the diagnosis of tuberculous effusion.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Sanyo Hospital, Respiratory Disease Center, Yamaguchi, Japan.
Akio
A
Hiraki
Keisuke
K
Aoe
Ryosuke
R
Eda
Tadashi
T
Maeda
Tomoyuki
T
Murakami
Kazuro
K
Sugi
Hiroyasu
H
Takeyama
D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000032:analysis; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000209:etiology; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000032:analysis; D012372:ROC Curve; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D020382:Interleukin-18; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; C030193:immunosuppressive acidic protein; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase