scholarly journals Potential role of cholesterol in distinguishing malignant from benign pleural effusion

2004 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 607-611
Author(s):  
Goran Plavec ◽  
Ilija Tomic ◽  
Natasa Nidzovic ◽  
Branko Radojcic ◽  
Slobodan Acimovic ◽  
...  

Cholesterol and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in pleural effusion and sera, were measured in 199 patients with pleural effusions of various origins. Malignant cause was found in 93, and nonmalignant in 106 patients. Mean cholesterol level in sera of patient with malignant disease was 5.0 ? 0.93mmol/L, and in nonmalignant group 4.34 ? 1.32 mmol/L. The difference was not statistically significant. Mean cholesterol level in nonmalignant pleural effusions was higher thAn those in malignant (2.51 ? 1.23 mmol/L; and 2.28 ? 1.06 mmol/L), but the difference was also not significant. Average pleural fluid/serum cholesterol ratio (HolI/S) in nonmalignant group was 0.61 ? 0.32 and in malignant group 0.46 ? 0.22. The difference between those mean values was significant. Higher ratio, at the cut off value of 0.5 was found in 79/106 and in 25/93 malignant patients. Calculated sensitivity was 75%, specificity 73%, positive predictive value 76%, negative predictive value 65% and accuracy 69%. Significant negative correlation between Holi/S and pleural fluid CEA was found (p<0.05). It was assumed that pleural fluid/serum cholesterol ratio lower than 0,5 could be of great benefit, as an additional test in the differentiation of malignant from benign pleural effusion.

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rogério Rufino ◽  
Bruna L. Marques ◽  
Renato de Lima Azambuja ◽  
Thiago Mafort ◽  
José G. Pugliese ◽  
...  

Introduction: Diagnostic approaches to patients with a pleural effusion must be precise because many procedures depend on the nature of the fluid in the effusion. To date, no biochemical test is considered an appropriate alternative to Light’s criteria. This study compared the absolute pleural cholesterol (PC) level and the pleural cholesterol/serum cholesterol (PC/SC) ratio with Light’s criteria to determine exudative pleural effusions. Materials and Methodology: This study was a case series of 100 consecutive patients with pleural effusions. The clinical parameters that were used to diagnosis an exudative effusion included the cholesterol level, a pleural cholesterol level ≥ 50 mg/dL, a pleural/serum ratio ≥ 0.4, and Light’s criteria. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of each test for the diagnosis of an exudative effusion were assessed. Results: A total of 79 patients were definitively diagnosed with an exudative effusion and were included in the trial and analyzed. The mean PC level in the exudates was 90.39 mg/dL. The PC levels demonstrated a sensitivity of 97.22%, a specificity of 85.71%, a positive predictive value of 98.59% and a negative predictive value of 75%. The PC/SC ratio demonstrated a sensitivity of 81.48%, a specificity of 57.14%, a positive predictive value of 93.61% and a negative predictive value of 28.57%. Conclusion: The pleural cholesterol dosage level and the pleural/serum cholesterol ratio can be utilized as unique biomarkers to identify an exudative effusion and replace Light’s criteria.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 6478-6485
Author(s):  
Babu Rajendran ◽  
Suwetha Babu ◽  
Sheju Jonathan Jha J

Correlation of pleural fluid cholesterol level with light’s criteria to differentiate exudate from transudate pleural effusion. Classification of transudate and exudate clinically was done independently based on the light's criteria. Pleural fluid cholesterol levels of 100 selected patients were obtained. The cholesterol levels were compared with the earlier obtained data to study its specificity and sensitivity in differentiating exudate from transudate effusion. It was found that pleural fluid cholesterol in comparison to protein values in differentiating exudate from transudate showed a sensitivity of 79.55%, specificity of 91.07%, the positive predictive value of 87.50%, the negative predictive value of 85.00%, with a P-value of <0.001. Comparison of pleural fluid cholesterol with LDH values showed a sensitivity of 86.36% specificity of 94.64%, the positive predictive value of 92.68%, the negative predictive value of 89.83%, with a P-value of <0.001. Also, a comparison of pleural fluid cholesterol to light's criteria showed a sensitivity of 100% and 86.4% in the transudative group and sensitivity of 100% and 91.1 % in the exudative group, respectively. Routine measurement of pleural fluid cholesterol may serve as a valuable diagnostic indicator for differentiating exudate from transudate effusion.


2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 847-855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Zoia ◽  
Linda A. Slater ◽  
Jane Heller ◽  
David J. Connolly ◽  
David B. Church

Classification of pleural effusion (PE) is central to diagnosis. Traditional veterinary classification has distinguished between transudates, modified transudates and exudates. In human medicine PEs are divided into only two categories: transudates and exudates. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in 20 cats presented with PE, paired samples of serum and pleural fluid for the following parameters: Light's criteria (pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase concentration (LDHp), pleural fluid/serum LDH ratio, pleural fluid/serum total protein ratio (TPr)), pleural fluid total protein, pleural fluid cholesterol concentration, pleural fluid/serum cholesterol ratio (CHOLr), serum-effusion cholesterol gradient (serum cholesterol minus PE cholesterol concentration (CHOLg)), PE total nucleated cells count (TNCCp) and pleural fluid glucose (GLUp). LDHp and TPr were found most reliable when distinguishing between transudates and exudates, with sensitivity of 100% and 91% and specificity of 100%, respectively. When conflict between the clinical picture and laboratory results exists, calculation of CHOLr, CHOLg and TNCCp measurement may help in the classification of the effusion. Measurement of serum albumin (in the case of a transudate) may provide additional information regarding the pathogenesis of the effusion.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 520
Author(s):  
Chakradhar Majhi ◽  
Butungeshwar Pradhan ◽  
Bikash C. Nanda ◽  
Sagnika Tripathy

Background: The first important step is to decide whether the pleural effusion is transudate or exudates by Light’s criteria. Light’s criteria can misclassify 25% of pleural transudates as exudates. Pleural fluid cholesterol level can differentiate transudates from exudates as a single parameter instead of multiple parameters used in Light’s criteria. Measurement of pleural fluid cholesterol levels to differentiate transudative effusions from exudative effusions.Methods: Consecutive 60 cases of pleural effusion were taken in the study. Pleural fluid analysis was done for parameters of Light’s criteria along with pleural fluid cholesterol levels. First exudative and transudative effusion was classified by Light’s criteria. Other  clinical and relevant  biochemical tests were done to arrive in  the final etiological diagnosis  and data were collected and analysed .Pleural fluid cholesterol levels was  correlated to Light’s criteria.Results: Total 60 cases of pleural effusion were there in the study. There were 43 exudative and 17 transudative effusions. Mean cholesterol level was 64.2± 7.5mg/dl in exudative effusions and 26.05±8.01 mg/dl in transudates. Pleural fluid cholesterol was ≥55mg /dl in 43 cases of exudates and <55mg/dl in 17 cases of transudates.Conclusions: Pleural fluid cholesterol level of ≥ 55mg/dl had similar sensitivity and specificity to Light’s criteria and as a single important parameter to differentiate exudative from transudative pleural effusion


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-315
Author(s):  
Haroon Ur Rasheed ◽  
Ejaz Hassan Khan ◽  
Mohsin Shafi ◽  
Ahmad Rafiq ◽  
Ambreen Ali ◽  
...  

Objective: To study the diagnostic accuracy of Adenosine deaminase enzyme (ADA) in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE).Material and Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the Pulmonology departments of Lady Reading and Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar and department of Pathology, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar from April 2015 to Jan 2016. A total of 210 tuberculous and non-tuberculous pleural effusion patients were selected through consecutive non-probability sampling techniques. After physical and systemic examination, 3cc of pleural fluid was taken. ADA was estimated by Non-Guisti and Galanti method through the simple colorimetric method. All the data was entered in a specially designed proforma and SPSS v16 was used for statistical analysis.Results: Out of 210 tuberculous and non-tuberculous pleural effusions, the commonest cause of pleural effusion was tuberculosis followed by malignancy. In our study, Pleural fluid ADA levels have sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value( PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 95.5%, 92.3%, 92.4%, and 96% respectively in differentiating tuberculous pleural effusions from non-tuberculous lymphocytes predominant pleural effusions. Conclusion: Tuberculosis is the commonest infectious disease worldwide. A pleural fluid ADA level of ≥ 35 U/L in lymphocyte-predominant effusions makes mycobacterium tuberculosis most likely etiology. This test is not only very sensitive and specific but also it is very cheap, quick, and easy to perform by routine colorimetric method.  


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sachin Kate ◽  
B. K. Mutha ◽  
Gauri Kulkarni ◽  
Chetan Mahajan ◽  
Sushma Dugad

<strong>Introduction</strong>: Pleural effusion is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural space. TB is the most common cause of pleural effusion worldwide (30-60%). The pleural fluid activity of adenosine deaminase (ADA) is one of the best, providing reliable basis for a treatment decision, particularly in excluding the diagnosis of tuberculosis, due to its high sensitivity.<strong> Aims and Objectives</strong>: To assess the importance of adenosine deaminase(ADA) level in the diagnosis of pleural effusion. To assess Adenosine Deaminase Activity (ADA) in tuberculosis pleural effusion and assess the sensitivity and specificity of ADA levels. <strong>Materials and Methods</strong>: This study was performed at the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at tertiary care centre. The study comprised of 75 patients of pleural effusion having Age &gt; 14 years, Clinical and Radiological evidence of Pleural Effusions&amp;Patients willing for ADA examination. Patients having Age &gt; 65 years, minimal nontappable effusion, not giving consent for ADA examination patient were excluded from the study. Detailed history, thorough physical examination, radiological findings, haematological and biochemical findings were recorded in the proforma. Pleural aspiration was performed on all patients. Macroscopic findings, cytological, microbiological and biochemical analysis of pleural fluid were performed in all patients including ADA level. PCR for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was also assessed in pleural fluid. Pleural fluid Adenosine deaminase level was measured by Giusti and Galanti method. <strong>Result</strong>: In our study out of 45 patients with tuberculosis pleural effusion ADA was more than 40IU/L in 42 (93.33%) and less than40IU/L in 3 (6.66 %). Our study showed a mean ADA of 107.7 IU/L Using a cut off of greater 40IU/L we got a sensitivity and specificity of 93.3% and 90% respectively and Positive predictive value 93.3% and Negative predictive value 90%. <strong>Conclusion</strong>: Pleural fluid ADA activity has been shown to be a valuable biochemical marker that has a high sensitivity and specificity for TB diagnosis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 184-190
Author(s):  
Muhammad Irfan ◽  
Abdul Rasheed Qureshi ◽  
Zeeshan Ashraf ◽  
Muhammad Amjad Ramzan ◽  
Tehmina Naeem ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background: Conventionally Pleural effusions are suspected by history of pleuritis, evaluated by physical signs and multiple view radiography. Trans-thoracic pleural aspiration is done and aspirated pleural fluid is considered the gold-standard for pleural effusion. Chest sonography has the advantage of having high diagnostic efficacy over radiography for the detection of pleural effusion. Furthermore, ultrasonography is free from radiation hazards, inexpensive, readily available  and feasible for use in ICU, pregnant and pediatric patients. This study aims to explore the diagnostic accuracy of trans-thoracic ultrasonography for pleural fluid detection, which is free of such disadvantages. The objective is to determine the diagnostic efficacy of trans-thoracic ultrasound for detecting pleural effusion and also to assess its suitability for being a non-invasive gold-standard.   Subject and Methods: This retrospective study of 4597 cases was conducted at pulmonology  OPD-Gulab Devi Teaching Hospital, Lahore from November 2016 to July 2018. Adult patients with clinical features suggesting pleural effusions were included while those where no suspicion of pleural effusion, patients < 14 years and pregnant ladies were excluded. Patients were subjected to chest x-ray PA and Lateral views and chest ultrasonography was done by a senior qualified radiologist in OPD. Ultrasound-guided pleural aspiration was done in OPD & fluid was sent for analysis. At least 10ml aspirated fluid was considered as diagnostic for pleural effusion. Patient files containing history, physical examination, x-ray reports, ultrasound reports, pleural aspiration notes and informed consent were retrieved, reviewed and findings were recorded in the preformed proforma. Results were tabulated and conclusion was drawn by statistical analysis. Results: Out of 4597 cases, 4498 pleural effusion were manifested on CXR and only 2547(56.62%) pleural effusions were proved by ultrasound while 2050 (45.57%) cases were reported as no Pleural effusion. Chest sonography demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and diagnostic accuracy 100 % each. Conclusions: Trans-thoracic ultrasonography revealed an excellent efficacy that is why it can be considered as non-invasive gold standard for the detection of pleural effusion.


2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saadet Akarsu ◽  
A. Nese Citak Kurt ◽  
Yasar Dogan ◽  
Erdal Yilmaz ◽  
Ahmet Godekmerdan ◽  
...  

The aim is to examine whether the changes in pleural fluid interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 levels were significant in differential diagnosis of childhood pleural effusions. IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in pleural fluids of all 36 patients were measured. The levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 in pleural fluids were statistically significantly higher in the transudate group compared with those of the exudate group. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were also found to be statistically significantly higher in the empyema group compared with both the parapneumonic and the tuberculous pleural effusion groups. The levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were detected to be statistically significantly higher in the tuberculous pleural effusion group in comparison with those of the parapneumonic effusion group. The results showed that pleural fluids IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 could be used in pleural fluids exudate and transudate distinction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-102
Author(s):  
Abdul Rasheed Qureshi ◽  
Muhammad Irfan ◽  
Zeeshan Ashraf

Background: Discrimination between tuberculous (TB) and malignant pleural effusions is a real practical challenge because both exist as exudative lymphocytic type. Transthoracic ultrasonography not only identifies and quantifies pleural effusion but also displays sonographic septations, which are frequently seen in TB pleural effusions and can help in differentiation between tuberculosis and malignancy successfully, without any invasive procedure. We designed this study to determine the diagnostic usefulness of these septations for tuberculous and malignant pleural effusions. Material and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the OPD of Gulab Devi Chest Hospital Lahore, Pakistan, a 1500 bedded tertiary care hospital, from November 2016 to February 2018. Total of 339 consecutive cases, aged 14-83 years with radiological evidence of pleural effusion were included in the study. After detailed history, thorough physical examination, radiological, haematological and biochemical findings were recorded. Pleural fluid macroscopic, cytological, microbiologic and biochemical analysis results were also recorded. Ultrasonography was done, septated and non-septated pleural effusions identified and findings were noted. SPSS-16 was used for statistical evaluation. Fisher Exact test was utilized for comparison between TB and malignant cases with P-value < 0.05 taken as significant. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), diagnostic accuracy and positive likelihood ratio were calculated. Results: Out of total 339 cases, 49 (14.45%) were malignant and 290 (85.55%) were non-malignant. In the malignant group, only 03 cases (6.12%) showed sonographic septations. In the non-malignant group, 259/290 (89.31%) cases showed tuberculous etiology and 187/259 (72.20%) of these cases displayed sonographic septations. By considering septations as predictor of TB, statistical analysis revealed a sensitivity of 79.23%, specificity of 92.85%, PPV of 98.42%, NPV of 44.31% and diagnostic accuracy of 81.29%, respectively. Conclusions: Sonographic septations can be a valuable predictor of tuberculosis, in a population with high prevalence of the disease. We found it to be a useful feature in differentiating between a malignant and tuberculous etiology, in exudative lymphocytic pleural effusions. It can be used with confidence in patients who are unfit for interventional procedures.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 457
Author(s):  
Sujatha G. ◽  
Vindhya P. ◽  
Kalyan Kumar K.

Background: Approximately one million patients develop pleural effusion every year. It is a common clinical disorder and is either a manifestation or a complication of one or other respiratory or non-respiratory disorders. It leads to serious prognosis, if not diagnosed and treated properly. To calculate SEAG and Light’s criteria and to compare SEAG with Light’s criteria in analyzing pleural effusions.Methods: A total of hundred patients were selected for the study. Pleural fluid of patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were collected, when pleural fluid is being tapped for diagnostic thoracocentesis. Venous blood sample was collected along with diagnostic thoracocentesis or within 24 hours of thoracocentesis.  Written informed consent was obtained from them for thoracocentesis.Results: In our study we compared the clinical outcome with outcome as per Pleural fluid/Serum protein ratio (p value of <0.0001), pleural fluid/serum LDH (p value of <0.0001) and pleural fluid LDH (p value of <0.0001) separately and the p values were statistically significant. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of Light’s criteria were 77.2%, 100%, 100%, 93.9% respectively. We compared Light’s criteria outcome with clinical outcome and the difference was statistically significant (p value of <0.0001). SEAG showed 100% sensitivity, 97.43% specificity, 91.6% PPV and is 91.66% and NPV is 100%. We compared the clinical outcome with SEAG and there was statistically significant difference (p value of <0.0001). We compared SEAG with Light’s criteria and the difference was statistically significant (p <0.0001). We compared Light’s plus pleural fluid protein gradient with SEAG and the difference is statistically significant (p value of <0.0001).Conclusions: SEAG is more sensitive for classifying transudates and more specific for exudates than Light’s criteria.


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