title: Talc pleurodesis for the management of malignant pleural effusions in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malignant pleural effusions are commonly treated with tube drainage followed by chemical pleurodesis to maintain the patient's quality of life. While talc is now accepted to be a worldwide gold-standard sclerosing agent for treating malignant pleural effusion, it is not yet approved in Japan. Instead, many patients are administered OK-432 for pleurodesis, which carries the risk of complications such as high-grade fever, chest pain, anaphylactic shock, interstitial pneumonia and acute renal failure. To assess the efficacy and safety of talc as a sclerosing agent in the management of malignant pleural effusions in Japanese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pleurodesis was performed using 4 g of sterile talc with thoracoscopic talc poudrage or the administration of talc slurry via a chest tube in patients with malignant pleural effusions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 57 patients were included. The success rate of pleurodesis assessed on chest radiography at 30, 90 and 180 days was 90.6%, 80.9% and 76.1%, respectively. Complications occurring after talc pleurodesis included fever in 10.5% of the patients and chest pain in 14.0% of the patients. No major complications were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Talc pleurodesis is an effective and safe treatment for the management of malignant pleural effusion in Japanese patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishine
authors.forename: Masamichi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mineshita
authors.forename: Teruomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D018700:Pleurodesis / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013627:Talc / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013627:Talc