[Prognostic factors of clinical outcome of the tuberculous pleural effusion].
OBJECTIVE
To date, no studies have been reported analyzing the prognosis factors related to severe clinical complications in tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE). We studied clinical, biochemical, radiological, and microbiological factors that could help establish the clinical outcome of TPE.


METHODS
Retrospective study of > or = 15 years old patients diagnosed of TPE along 9 years. Patients were classified in two groups: a group without complications (NCG), and a group with complications (CG) on the basis of residual pleural thickening (RPT) > or = 10 mm, need of surgery or death.


RESULTS
Sixty six patients were included, mean age 35.3 years, 53% male, 47 in the NCG group and 19 in the CG (1 died, 4 needed surgery, 14 had RPT). The evolution of clinical symptoms was 20.7 days in the NCG and 45.6 in the CG. 94.7% of the CG patients had loculations (23.4% in the NCG). We observed significant differences in the pH (7.34 vs 7.11), glucose (78 vs 30 mg/dl) and lactic dehydrogenase (925 vs 3,235 U/l).


CONCLUSIONS
Severe TPE has similar characteristics to complicated parapneumonic pleural effusion. Loculations, pH < 7.25 and glucose < 50 mg/dl were indicative of a poorly outcome in our study.
Montero Ruiz
Eduardo
E
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. emonteror@wanadooadsl.net
López Alvarez
Joaquín
J
Hernández Ahijado
Concepción
C
Rojas Giraldo
Raquel
R
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy