Differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy by measurement of cytokine concentrations in pleural effusion

Study objective: Measurement of cytokine concentration in serum and pleural effusion may be useful in the differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.Patients and methods: We compared the biochemical properties and concentrations of cytokines in serum and pleural effusion samples of 18 patients with tuberculous pleurisy, 7 patients with parapneumonic pleurisy, and 25 patients with malignant pleurisy.Results: A high value of adenosine deaminase (ADA) was observed in pleural effusion of patients with tuberculosis. The serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1-beta, IL-2, interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were similar among the three groups. However, the concentration of IFN-gamma in pleural effusion was high in tuberculous patients, and that of TNF-alpha was high in tuberculous and parapneumonic pleural fluid, but both cytokines were low in malignant pleural fluid. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of IFN-gamma in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy were 94%, 100% and 98%, respectively. Similarly, those of TNF-alpha for the diagnosis of infectious pleurisy including tuberculous and parapneumonic pleurisy were 88%, 80% and 84%, respectively.Conclusions: Our results indicate that simultaneous measurement of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in pleural effusion is a useful diagnostic tool for differentiating tuberculous pleurisy from parapneumonic and malignant pleurisy.     

Determination of adenosine deaminase activity and its isoenzymes for diagnosis of pleural effusions

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity and the activities of its ADA1 and ADA2 isoenzymes in pleural effusions and also sera with different aetiological origins. METHODOLOGY: The pleural effusions of 87 patients were examined. The patients were separated into four groups: transudates, parapneumonic, malignant, and tuberculous effusions. The cases were also designated as tuberculous or non-tuberculous group. Adenosine deaminase activity was determined by the colorimetric method described by Giusti and Galanti. RESULTS: The intermean differences were statistically significant for total ADA, ADA1 and ADA2, except for pleural fluid ADA1 in the malignant group when compared to the tuberculous effusion group. The intermean differences between the tuberculous and non-tuberculous group were statistically significant for all three parameters except for pleural fluid and serum ADA1 activity. The sensitivities of total ADA, ADA1 and ADA2 activities for tuberculosis were 91, 57 and 93%, respectively; their specificities 89, 88 and 92%, respectively; their positive predictive values 82, 70 and 86%; and their diagnostic accuracies 89, 76 and 92%, respectively, in pleural fluid. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of ADA and its isoenzymes can help to differentiate the causes of pleural effusion. Increased ADA2 activity is a striking marker of tuberculous effusions. In contrast, increased ADA1 activity was significantly elevated in parapneumonic effusions.     

Use of pleural fluid C-reactive protein in diagnosis of pleural effusions

The aims of the study were to assess whether C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker for discriminating between transudative and exudative and pleural effusions to evaluate whether it can be used to distinguish inflammatory pleural effusions from other types of effusion. Pleural fluid and serum CRP levels were obtained in 97 patients with pleural effusion, using an immunoturbidimetric method (Olympus AU-600 autoanalyser). We compared CRP levels between transudates and exudates, inflammatory effusions and other types of effusion. According to the criteria used, 16 patients were included in the transudate group and 81 patients in the exudate group. Pleural fluid CRP levels were significantly lower in the transudate group (P<0.04; 14.9 +/- 4.9 mg l(-1) and 35.5 +/- 4.9 mg l(-1) respectively). Also, the ratio of pleural fluid to serum was significantly lower in the transudate group (P<0.009; 0.8 +/- 0.5 mg l(-1) and 2.8 +/- 0.7 mg l(-1), respectively). In the exudate group, 35 patients had neoplastic effusions, 10 chronic non-specific pleurisy, 19 tuberculous pleurisy, 16 parapneumonic effusion and one Dressler Syndrome. When these sub-groups were compared, the parapneumonic effusion subgroup CRP levels (mean 89 +/- 16.3 mg l(-1)) were significantly higher than those in the other subgroups, other exudate of neoplastic effusion, tuberculous pleurisy and chronic non-specific effusion and the transudate group (P<0.0001; P<0.0001; P<0.0004 and P<0.0001, respectively). The ratio between pleural fluid and serum CRP was significantly higher in the parapneumonic effusion subgroup than in the neoplastic subgroup (P<0.0002; 6.6 +/- 2.7 mg l(-1) and 1 +/- 0.2 mg l(-1), respectively). Pleural fluid CRP levels > 30 mg l(-1) had a high sensitivity (93.7%) and specificity (76.5%) and a positive predictive value of 98.4%. In the differential diagnosis of pleural effusions, higher CRP levels may prove to be a rapid, practical and accurate method of differentiating parapneumonic effusions from other exudate types. Although the high level of CRP obtained in the exudate group may be due to the number of patients with parapneumonic effusion who were included, the pleural CRP level may also be helpful in discriminating between exudative and transudative pleural effusions.     

Adenosine deaminase 2 in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis

PURPOSE: We examined the usefulness of adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis. SUBJECTS: A hundred cases, 78 male and 22 female, with pleural effusion were examined. With regard to pleural effusion, 18 cases were transudate and 82 cases (9 tuberculous pleuritis, 27 lung cancer, 8 mesothelioma, 5 malignant diseases except lung cancer and mesothelioma, 5 benign asbestos pleurisy, 10 empyema, 10 parapneumonic effusion, one SLE, one parasitic infection, and 6 undetermined etiology) were exudates. The last 6 cases with unknown origin were excluded in this study. RESULTS: Pleural adenosine deaminase (ADA) was 90.4 +/- 22.4 U/l (mean +/- SD) and pleural ADA2 was 80.4 +/- 21.9 U/l in tuberculous pleuritis, both were significantly higher than those in non-tuberculous exudates (p < 0.001). In the diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis, pleural ADA showed 100% sensitivity and 88% specificity, whereas pleural ADA2 showed 100% sensitivity and 91% specificity. CONCLUSION: Pleural ADA2 is useful in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis, which has similar sensitivity and a little better specificity compared with pleural ADA.     

联合检测对结核性和恶性胸腔积液的鉴别诊断价值

目的探讨联合检测胸腔积液中腺苷脱氨酶(ADA)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、癌胚抗原(CEA)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)对结核性和恶性胸腔积液的诊断价值。方法以我院2012年1月至2012年12月112例住院的胸腔积液患者为研究对象,其中62例结核性胸腔积液患者,50例恶性胸腔积液患者,以酶比色法,免疫比浊法,速率法和电化学发光法检测上述患者胸腔积液中ADA、CRP、CEA和LDH浓度。结果结核性胸腔积液患者ADA和CRP的诊断敏感性显著高于恶性胸腔积液患者(P0.01),恶性胸腔积液患者CEA的诊断敏感性较结核性胸腔积液患者明显增高(P0.01)。以胸腔积液CEA7 ng/ml及LDH245 U/L为诊断标准,诊断恶性胸腔积液的敏感性,特异性分别为78.0%,80.6%;而以CEA7 ng/ml,LDH245 U/L及ADA40 U/L,CRP5 mg/L为诊断标准,诊断恶性胸腔积液的敏感性,特异性分别为94.0%,95.2%。以胸腔积液ADA40 U/L,CRP5 mg/L为诊断标准,诊断结核性胸腔积液的敏感性,特异性分别为82.3%,86.0%;而以CEA7 ng/ml,LDH245 U/L及ADA4 0U/L,CRP5 mg/L为诊断标准,诊断结核性胸腔积液的敏感性,特异性分别为96.8%,92.0%。结论联合检测胸腔积液中ADA、CRP、CEA、LDH的浓度可提高结核性和恶性胸腔积液鉴别诊断的敏感性和特异性。     

ADA、CRP和CEA在胸腔积液诊断中的意义

目的探讨腺苷脱氨酶（ADA）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、癌胚抗原（CEA）在胸腔积液中鉴别诊断的意义。方法收集已确诊的胸腔积液标本76例（结核性胸腔积液29例、癌性胸腔积液38例和化脓性胸腔积液9例）,检测胸腔积液中ADA、CRP和CEA数值,并进行各组间统计学分析。结果ADA在结核性胸腔积液及化脓性胸腔积液明显升高,在癌性胸腔积液明显偏低（P〈0．01）。CRP在化脓性胸腔积液升高最明显,在结核性胸腔积液次之,在癌性胸腔积液中值最低,三者之间比较有显著差异（P〈0．01）。CEA在癌性胸腔积液中均值明显高于结核性胸腔积液和化脓性胸腔积液组（P〈0．01）。结论ADA、CRP和CEA联合监测对胸腔积液的鉴别诊断有较好的意义。     

Acute phase markers for the differentiation of infectious and malignant pleural effusions

Acute-phase markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), have been studied in inflammatory and malignant disorders. We examined the diagnostic value of these markers for the differentiation among parapneumonic, tuberculous and malignant effusions. We studied 124 patients with pleural effusions, classified as exudates [total (n=97), parapneumonic (n=15), tuberculous (n=25), malignant (n=57)] and transudates due to congestive heart failure (n=27). CRP, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were measured in pleural fluid and serum. Pleural fluid CRP was higher in parapneumonic compared to tuberculous and malignant effusions, providing 100% sensitivity for a cut-off point of 5.3mg/dL. IL-6 was higher in both parapneumonic and tuberculous compared to malignant effusions. TNF-alpha was higher in tuberculous compared to malignant effusions, providing 96.0% sensitivity, and 93.0% specificity for a cut-off point of 88.1 pg/mL. Pleural fluid CRP levels were lower than serum in all groups, probably reflecting systemic inflammation, whereas IL-6 and TNF-alpha were higher in pleural fluid indicating local production. Our data suggest that these markers may provide useful information for the differentiation of infectious and malignant effusions in clinical practice. However, further studies are needed for the validation of these findings in usual clinical circumstances.     

Efficacy of adenosine deaminase in the diagnosis of pleural effusions

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was studied in 53 patients with pleural effusions. Patients with tuberculous pleural effusion (36) had significantly higher ADA activity (77.68 IU/L; P less than 0.001) in comparison to malignant (14.47 IU/L) and parapneumonic (28.65 IU/L) effusions. When tested with a reference limit of over 50.75 IU/L, the specificity of ADA activity was found to be 94.1 per cent. With a sensitivity of 100 per cent, low cost and easy performance pleural fluid ADA activity is proposed as a routine investigation for etiological diagnosis in pleural effusion.     

Adenosine deaminase activity in pleural fluid--a diagnostic test of tuberculous pleural effusion.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in pleural fluids was studied in 47 patients with pleural effusion of different etiology. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I - Tuberculous pleural effusion (21 patients): Group II - Non tuberculous effusion (26 patients) and these included malignant pleural effusion (9 cases), synpneumonic pleural effusion (9 cases) and transudative pleural effusion (8 cases). The mean ADA activity was 64.67 IU/L +/- 21.68 in group I and 6.99 +/- 3.69 in Group II. Increased mean pleural fluid ADA activity in tuberculous pleural effusion was highly significant (p < 0.001) when compared with pleural effusion of non-tuberculous etiology. Based on lowest value of ADA activity found in tuberculous pleural effusion (30 IU/L), the test has a sensitivity and specificity of 1.     

C反应蛋白在结核性及恶性胸腔积液鉴别诊断中的价值

目的　探讨 C反应蛋白 (CRP)测定在结核性及恶性胸腔积液鉴别诊断中的价值。方法　对 32例结核性或恶性胸腔积液患者的胸水、血清 CRP浓度及胸水 CRP/血清 CRP进行对比分析。结果　结核性胸液组胸水CRP浓度、血清 CRP浓度、胸水 CRP/血清 CRP均高于恶性胸液组 (分别为 P<0 .0 0 1,P<0 .0 1,P<0 .0 5 )。结论　 CRP测定有助于对结核性与恶性胸腔积液的鉴别。     

血管内皮细胞生长因子C与腺苷脱氨酶联合检测在胸腔积液鉴别诊断中的意义

目的 了解血管内皮细胞生长因子C(VEGF-C)及腺苷脱氨酶(ADA)在不同原因胸腔积液中的表达,并探讨通过比值构建联合诊断对胸腔积液鉴别诊断的作用.方法 选择143例临床确诊的胸腔积液患者(恶性胸腔积液40例,结核性胸膜炎45例,其他类型58例),采用双抗夹心ELISA法检测胸水VEGF-C,采用速率法检测胸水ADA,计算VEGF-C/ADA比值,比较不同类型胸腔积液患者中上述诊断指标的变化,并计算它们的敏感度、特异度和准确度.结果 恶性胸腔积液中VEGF-C浓度高于结核性胸腔积液及类肺炎性等其他类型胸腔积液,(286.32±102.65)ng/L vs(133.46±39.83)ng/L,(140.14±44.62)ng/L,P<0.05.结核性胸腔积液中ADA浓度高于恶性胸腔积液及其他类型胸腔积液,(78.6±36.3)IU/L vs(23.4±11.2)IU/L,(26.1±10.5)IU/L,P<0.05.VEGF-C/ADA≥8对恶性胸腔积液诊断的敏感度为87.5%,特异度为81.4%;VEGF-C/ADA≤3对结核性胸腔积液诊断的敏感度为84.4%,特异度为86.4%.结论 VEGF-C与ADA浓度比值对胸腔积液的鉴别诊断具有较好的临床价值.     

ADA、IFN-γ在鉴别诊断结核性和恶性胸腔积液中的价值

目的探讨ADA(腺苷脱氨酶)、IFN-γ(γ-干扰素)在鉴别诊断结核性和恶性胸腔积液中的价值。方法对40例结核性胸腔积液患者(结核组),40例恶性胸腔积液患者(肿瘤组),分别在治疗前抽取适量胸腔积液,进行ADA活性、IFN-γ浓度测定。结果结核性胸腔积液中ADA活性、IFN-γ浓度显著高于恶性胸腔积液,差异具有显著性(P<0.01)。根据ROC(受试者工作特征)曲线评价ADA、INF-γ在鉴别诊断结核性胸腔积液和恶性胸腔积液中的价值,ADA、IFN-γ临界值分别为29.85U/L,151.77ng/L,其诊断结核性胸腔积液的敏感性分别为82.5%,92.5%,特异性为92.5%,95%,准确性为93.7%,98.5%。结论ADA、IFN-γ可作为诊断结核性胸腔积液的可靠指标,且IFN-γ具有更高的诊断能效。     

结核性与癌性胸腔积液的实验室检测比较研究

目的比较研究实验室检测腺苷脱氨酶(ADA)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、癌胚抗原(CEA)、蛋白(TP)、葡萄糖(GLU)等多项指标对结核性与癌性胸腔积液的鉴别诊断价值。方法对151例明确诊断为结核性或癌性胸腔积液分别测定胸水ADA、LDH、CEA、TP、GLU和血清TP,并进行统计分析。结果结核性胸腔积液中ADA、LDH、TP含量都明显高于癌性胸腔积液,其中胸水ADA以28U/L作为诊断结核性胸水的临界值则其敏感性和特异性均极高,结核性胸水中GLU含量则低于癌性胸水,癌性胸水CEA的阳性率高达76.0%,而结核性胸水CEA均阴性。结论联合检测胸水ADA、LDH、CEA、TP和GLU可以作为结核性与癌性胸腔积液的诊断和鉴别诊断依据,其中ADA28U/L可以考虑作为结核性胸腔积液的单独诊断依据。     

A simple C-reactive protein measurement for the differentiation between tuberculous and malignant pleural effusion

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the validity of pleural fluid C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and/or pleural fluid to serum CRP ratio for differentiating tuberculous pleuritis (TBP) from malignant pleural effusion (MPE) in patients presenting with lymphocytic exudative pleural effusions. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 161 patients with pleural effusion who underwent diagnostic evaluation at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, between April 2001 and March 2002. The complete biochemical analysis of pleural fluid, cultures of pleural fluid, and pathological examinations of pleural fluid and pleural tissue were performed. The CRP concentrations were then measured in stored sera and pleural fluid samples from patients with a lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion and with a definite diagnosis. RESULTS: Among the 148 patients with lymphocytic exudative pleural effusions, 55 were diagnosed with TBP, 60 with MPE, and 33 with non-specific pleuritis. Pleural fluid and serum CRP levels were significantly higher in the TBP group than in the MPE group (54.58 +/- 4.50 mg/L and 106.93 +/- 9.54 mg/L vs 12.66 +/- 3.52 mg/L and 49.66 +/- 8.84 mg/L, respectively, P < 0.001). The ratio of pleural fluid to serum CRP was significantly higher in the TBP group than in the MPE group (0.52 +/- 0.18 vs 0.30 +/- 0.16, P < 0.001). The optimum cut-off value for pleural fluid CRP level of > or =30 mg/dL had a sensitivity of 72% with 93% specificity, and the pleural fluid to serum CRP ratio cut-off value of 0.45 had a sensitivity of 60% with 89% specificity. A correlation between serum and pleural fluid CRP levels was observed in TBP patients but not in MPE patients. CONCLUSION: In patients presenting with lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion, a simple marker of raised pleural fluid CRP level may be helpful in discriminating between TBP and MPE.     

腺甘脱氨酶、肿瘤坏死因子α、白细胞介素对结核性与恶性胸水鉴别诊断的价值

目的探讨胸水中腺甘脱氨酶（ADA）、肿瘤坏死因子-α[（TNF—α）、白细胞介素-2（IL-2）和IL-6水平对结核性与恶性胸水鉴别诊断的价值。方法采用酶法和化学发光法对49例结核性胸水与43例恶性胸水患者ADA、IL-2、IL-6、TNF-α水平进行检测。结果结核性胸水组患者胸水中ADA、IL-5、TNF-α含量明显高于恶性胸水组（P〈0．01）,而胸水IL-2含量在两组患者间比较无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论检测胸水中ADA、IL-5、TNF-α的水平对鉴别结核性与恶性胸水有较高的临床价值。     

Diagnostic value of adenosine deaminase in nontuberculous lymphocytic pleural effusions.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) can aid in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusions, but false-positive findings from lymphocytic effusions have been reported. The purpose of this study is to assess the ADA levels in nontuberculous lymphocytic pleural effusions (lymphocyte count > 50%) of different aetiologies. Altogether, 410 nontuberculous lymphocytic pleural fluid samples were consecutively selected. These included malignant effusions (n = 221), idiopathic effusions (n = 76), parapneumonic effusions (n = 35), postcoronary artery bypass graft surgery effusions (n = 6), miscellaneous exudative effusions (n = 21) and transudative effusions (n = 51). The ADA level reached the diagnostic cut-off for tuberculosis (40 U x L(-1)) in seven of the 410 cases (1.71%). The negative predictive value of ADA for the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis was 99% (403 of 407 cases) in the group of lymphocytic pleural effusions. In five of these seven patients ADA1 and ADA2 were measured, and in all these cases (100%) ADA1/ADA(p) correctly classified these lymphocytic effusions as nontuberculous (ratio < 0.42). This prospective study provides additional evidence that adenosine deaminase levels in nontuberculous lymphocytic pleural effusions seldom exceed the cut-off set for tuberculous effusions. The pleural fluid adenosine deaminase levels were significantly higher in different types of exudative effusions than in transudates. An adenosine deaminase level < 40 IU x L(-1) virtually excluded a diagnosis of tuberculosis in lymphocytic pleural effusions. Adenosine deaminase1/adenosine deaminase(p) correctly classified all nontuberculous lymphocytic pleural effusions with high adenosine deaminase levels.     

γ-干扰素释放分析T-SPOT.TB在结核性胸腔积液中的诊断意义

目的 探讨γ-干扰素释放分析T-SPOT.TB的检测对结核性胸腔积液的诊断价值.方法 选取在本院住院的胸腔积液的患者78例,分为两组,每组患者39例,A组为疑是结核性胸腔积液,B组为临床确诊的癌性胸腔积液,两组患者均采用T-SPOT.TB试剂盒对外周血中释放γ-干扰素的结核分枝杆菌特异性T淋巴细胞进行检测,同时抽取胸水常规检测腺苷脱氨酶（ADA）及癌胚抗原（CEA）.结果 A组联合胸水常规ADA及 T-SPOT.TB检测结核性胸腔积液诊断敏感性高于单纯的ADA检测,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,其CEA检测无明显升高,B组检测ADA 及T-SPOT.TB无升高情况.结论 联合胸水常规ADA及T-SPOT.TB检测对结核性胸腔积液诊断特异性高,对结核性疾病的诊断意义大,而对癌性胸腔积液无诊断意义.     

干扰素γ、白细胞介素12及腺苷脱氨酶同工酶对结核性胸腔积液的诊断价值

目的　研究胸腔积液中干扰素γ(IFN γ)和白细胞介素 12 (IL 12 )的浓度及腺苷脱氨酶同工酶 (ADA2 )的活性三者在结核性胸腔积液诊断中的临床价值。方法　以 2 0 0 2年 3月～ 2 0 0 3年2月期间在北京大学人民医院、北京胸科医院、北京结核病胸部肿瘤研究所等医院的未经治疗的胸腔积液患者为研究对象 ,其中结核性胸腔积液 14 1例、恶性胸腔积液 4 9例。应用酶速率法检测胸腔积液标本中腺苷脱氨酶 (ADA)、ADA2 的活性 ,酶联免疫吸附测定 (ELISA)检测IFN γ和IL 12的浓度。比较两组胸腔积液中ADA和ADA2 活性 ,以及IFN γ和IL 12浓度之间的区别。结果　 (1)结核性胸腔积液组ADA、ADA2 活性分别为 (5 1 6± 10 9)U/L和 (4 7 9± 6 9)U/L ,恶性胸腔积液组ADA、ADA2 活性分别为 (2 0 4± 4 4 )U/L、(13 2± 3 2 )U/L ,结核性胸腔积液组的ADA、ADA2 活性显著高于恶性胸腔积液组 (P <0 0 1)。结核性胸腔积液组IFN γ和IL 12浓度分别为 (112 1± 4 5 8)ng/L及 (10 4 3± 32 3)ng/L ,恶性胸腔积液组IFN γ和IL 12浓度分别为 (2 4 8± 5 9)ng/L和 (6 1 8±10 8)ng/L ,结核性胸腔积液组的IFN γ和IL 12浓度水平显著高于恶性胸腔积液组 (P <0 0 1,0 0 5 ) ;(2 )ROC曲线分析结果 ,IFN γ以 6 1 7ng/L为诊     

C-reactive protein in lymphocytic pleural effusions: a diagnostic aid in tuberculous pleuritis

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) pleural fluid levels have been found to be higher in tuberculosis and parapneumonic effusions than in other causes of pleural effusion. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze whether CRP (a simple and inexpensive test) may be a diagnostic aid for tuberculosis in lymphocytic pleural effusions. METHODS: One hundred and forty-four patients with a lymphocytic pleural effusion (more than 50% lymphocytes in the differential white blood cell count) were included. The patients were 93 men (65%) and 51 women (35%), aged 64 +/- 18 years (mean +/- SD). The diagnoses were as follows: tuberculosis, 20; pleural effusion associated with malignancy, 69; transudates, 38; other benign exudates, 17. RESULTS: The CRP pleural fluid level was higher in tuberculous pleuritis (54 +/- 24 mg/l) than in lymphocytic effusions of other origin (21 +/- 16 mg/l; p < 0.001). High CRP levels (>or=50 mg/l) have a high specificity for tuberculosis (95%), and low levels (<30 mg/l) have a high sensitivity (95%) for excluding disease. CONCLUSIONS: CRP pleural fluid level determination is useful in the diagnostic workup of lymphocytic pleural effusions. High CRP levels are very suggestive of tuberculous pleuritis, and low CRP levels make this diagnosis unlikely.     

IFN-γ、VEGF联合检测在结核性胸腔积液和恶性胸腔积液鉴别诊断中的价值

目的探讨γ-干扰素(IFN-γ)、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)联合检测在结核性胸腔积液(胸液)和恶性胸液鉴别诊断中的价值。方法以2004年3月—2005年5月住院的87例胸腔积液患者为研究对象,其中结核性胸液45例,恶性胸液42例,应用酶速率法检测胸液中腺苷酸脱氨酶(ADA)的活性,应用ELISA法检测IFN-γ、癌胚抗原(CEA)和VEGF的浓度。应用受试者工作特征曲线(receiver operating characteristic curve,ROC)计算上述指标及VEGF/IFN-γ比值的诊断敏感性、特异性和准确性。结果结核性胸液组ADA和IFN-γ含量高于恶性胸液组,有显著性差异(P<0.01);恶性胸液组CEA、VEGF含量和VEGF/IFN-γ比值高于结核性胸液组,有显著性差异(P<0.01)。IFN-γ对结核性胸液诊断的敏感性和特异性高于ADA;VEGF/IFN-γ比值对恶性胸液诊断的敏感性和特异性高于CEA和VEGF。结论IFN-γ和VEGF/IFN-γ比值可以作为临床上鉴别结核性胸液和恶性胸液的有效指标。