title: Adjunct therapy with corticosteroids or paracentesis for treatment of tuberculous pleural effusion.
abstract: To determine the effect of adjunct therapy, we carried out a prospective cohort study on 190 patients with tuberculous pleural effusion during May 2003-April 2004. Patients were divided into 3 groups. All groups were treated with anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs for 6 months; in group 2 (n = 46) prednisolone, 30 mg/day for 10 days, was added; group 3 (n = 78) were given paracentesis to remove fluid. Fever and constitutional symptoms disappeared faster in group 2 (P > 0.05). After 10 days, there was a significantly greater reduction in the size of pleural effusion in group 2, but after 6 months the difference was not statistically significant. We found corticosteroids and therapeutic paracentesis are not necessary in the management of TB pleural effusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Basra College of Medicine, Iraq. aambaam@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Al-Rbeay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019152:Paracentesis; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D011239:Prednisolone