Evaluation of Pleural Fluid Lactate for Diagnosis and Management of Parapneumonic Pleural Effusion.
BACKGROUND
The aim was to measure the accuracy of pleural fluid lactate concentration for diagnosis of parapneumonic pleural effusion (PPE) and to discriminate between uncomplicated (UPPE) and complicated PPE (CPPE).


METHODS
Pleural fluid lactate was measured in patients with pleural effusion. Patients were classified into two groups according to the etiology of pleural effusion: PPE and NOT PPE.


RESULTS
We studied 173 patients. Thirty patients were PPE (10 UPPE and 20 CPPE) and 143 were NOT PPE. The AUC value was 0.831 (p < 0.0001) and the optimal cutoff value was 5.6 mmol/L exhibiting 70% sensitivity and 90.9% specificity for diagnosis of PPE. Also, pleural fluid lactate could be used to discriminate between UPPE and CPPE, the AUC value was 0.740 (p = 0.0089) and the optimal cutoff value was 10.2 mmol/L, exhibiting 45% sensitivity and 90% specificity.


CONCLUSIONS
Pleural fluid lactate has a high accuracy for diagnosis and management of PPE.
Jose D
JD
Santotoribio
Hiba
H
Alnayef-Hamwie
Paula
P
Batalha-Caetano
Santiago
S
Perez-Ramos
Maria J Sanchez Del
MJ
Pino
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019540:Area Under Curve; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications; D012372:ROC Curve; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D019344:Lactic Acid