Contralateral pleural effusion during chemotherapy for tuberculous pleurisy

A 46-year-old woman developed a right pleural effusion 8 weeks after standard chemotherapy for tuberculous pleurisy on the left side had been started. Pleural biospy demonstrated caseous granulomatous changes. The patient improved following continuation of the same treatment.     

Dabigatran can cause eosinophilic pleural and pericardial effusion with blood eosinophilia

Eosinophilic pleural effusions (EPE) account for 5%–8% of all exudative pleural effusions. A pleural effusion is defined as eosinophilic if it contains 10% or more eosinophils. We present the case of a 70‐year‐old man with EPE, blood eosinophilia and pericardial effusion due to dabigatran, a novel anti‐thrombin agent.     

Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia presenting as eosinophilic pleural effusion.

A case of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia presenting as an eosinophilic pleural effusion is reported. The condition resolved by treatment with diethylcarbamazine. The patient has been well during the two year follow-up period.     

胸水抗PPD-IgG在结核性胸膜炎中的临床意义

目的：评价胸水抗PPD－IgG检测对结核性胸膜炎的临床意义。方法：采用斑点免疫金渗滤技术（金标法）检测70例结核性胸膜炎患血清及胸水抗PPD－IgG，同时作PPD皮试，并随机选择24例非结核性胸腔积液作为对照组。结果：结核组血清、胸水中抗PPD－IgG阳性中分别为60．00％和52．86％，显高于对照组血清及胸水中抗PPD－IgG阳性中（8．33％和16．67％），P＜0．01；血清抗PPD－IgG敏感性为60．00％，特异性91．67％，胸水抗PPD－IgG敏感性52．86％，特异性83．33％，同时测胸水、血清抗PPD-IgG敏感性68．57％，特异性91．67％。结核组PPD总阳性率73．81％。结论：同时测定血清、胸水抗PPD－IgG联合PPD皮试，将会提高结核性胸膜炎诊断的敏感性和诊断率。     

A case of tuberculous pleurisy with a rapid decrease in pleural effusion]

We report a rare case of tuberculous pleurisy with a rapid decrease in pleural effusion by levofloxacin. A 73-year-old woman admitted due to dyspnea on exertion of one month duration. She had aortitis syndrome which had been treated with oral prednisolone for 6 months. Chest roentgenogram showed left pleural effusion, which was exudative with lymphocyte predominance and an increased level of adenosine deaminase. One-week administration of levofloxacin remarkably decreased effusion. as demonstrated on chest roentgenogram 2 weeks after treatment. Since Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated in culture from bronchial lavage fluid and sputum, we prescribed antituberculous therapy with isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol. resulting in complete resolution.     

A case having chyliform pleural effusion caused by former tuberculous pleurisy

A 49-year-old male who had been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous pleurisy in 2007 was referred to our hospital with the complaint of dyspnea on exertion in Nov. 2009. Chest X-ray showed increased pleural effusion compared with that remaining after the previous treatment of pleurisy in 2008. A chest CT revealed that fluid collection was surrounded by thickened pleura. Thoracocentesis was performed, and yellow milky liquid was obtained. The pleural effusion contained few cells. The triglyceride concentration was 83 mg/dl, and the cholesterol level was very high at 628 mg/dl. Based on these findings we diagnosed this case as chyliform pleural effusion. Both smear of acid-fast bacilli and PCR-TB test of the pleural effusion were positive, but culture was negative for mycobacterium, suggesting that this chyliform pleural effusion was produced by the former episode of tuberculous pleurisy, not by the recent reactivation of tuberculous pleurisy. The ADA concentration in the pleural effusion was high at 91.7 IU/l. No increase in the amount of pleural effusion was observed after thoracocentesis without any anti-tuberculosis therapy.     

Cytokine content in pleural effusion. Comparison between tuberculous and carcinomatous pleurisy

Tuberculous pleurisy is a good model for resolution of local cellular immunity. It would be expected that tuberculous pleural fluid contains a variety of immunologically important cytokines because of the accumulation of immunocompetent cells in the pleural cavity. We studied interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 2 (IL-2), and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) levels in pleural fluid of 20 patients with tuberculous pleurisy and compared them with those in pleural fluid of 20 patients with malignant pleurisy. We also evaluated adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels in both effusions. Tuberculous pleural fluid had higher levels of IL-1, IL-2, IFN-gamma, and ADA than malignant pleural fluid. Although the difference of IL-1 level between tuberculous and malignant pleural fluid was modest, that of IL-2, IFN-gamma, and ADA was dominant. These findings suggest that activated T lymphocytes in tuberculous pleural fluid concern the production of lymphokines at the morbid site and they effectively exert local cellular immunity through the action of such lymphokines.     

Tumor markers in pleural effusion of patients with lung cancer and patients with tuberculous pleurisy]

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), NCC-ST-439, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA 21-1), sialyl Lewis X-i antigen (SLX), progastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were evaluated in the pleural effusion of 39 patients with lung cancer (29 adenocarcinomas, seven small-cell carcinomas, three squamous cell carcinomas) and 43 patients with tuberculous pleurisy. The levels of the tumor markers other than SCC and NSE were significantly higher in lung cancer than in tuberculosis. High levels of CYFRA 21-1 and SCC were observed in squamous cell carcinoma and high levels of ProGRP and NSE were observed in small-cell carcinoma. According to the validity score, sensitivity (%) + specificity (%) - 100, the optimal cut-off levels of pleural effusion were 8.1 ng/ml for CEA, 660 U/ml for CA 125, 2.6 U/ml for NCC-ST-439, 10 U/ml for CA 19-9, 65 ng/ml for CYFRA 21-1, 140 U/ml for SLX, 23.2 pg/ml for ProGRP, 0.6 ng/ml for SCC and 5 ng/ml for NSE. By comparison of validity scores for each optimal cut-off level and of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, we suggest that a CEA assay is the most useful for pleural effusion. The combined assay of CEA + ProGRP and CEA + ProGRP + CYFRA 21-1 were considered to be useful.     

不同技术联合检测痰液和胸腔积液对结核性胸膜炎的诊断价值

目的 研究不同技术联合检测痰液和胸腔积液对结核性胸膜炎的诊断价值。方法 收集2014年1月至2017年3月首都医科大学附属北京胸科医院收治的临床诊断为结核性胸膜炎的1955例患者,其中1232例(63.02%)有肺部实质病变,723例(36.98%)无肺部实质病变,通过抗酸杆菌涂片镜检(简称“涂片法”)、改良固体培养法和BACTEC MGIT 960液体培养(简称“培养法”)和Xpert MTB/RIF技术(简称“Xpert法”)单独及联合检测患者痰液和胸腔积液中结核分枝杆菌的阳性检出率,并分析肺部实质病变对结核分枝杆菌检测阳性率的影响。结果 1955例结核性胸膜炎患者同时采用涂片法进行痰液和胸腔积液检测者中有535例(27.37%)患者、353例(18.06%)采用培养法、294例(15.04%)采用Xpert 法,188例(9.62%)患者同时进行了涂片法+培养法+Xpert法检查。涂片法、培养法和Xpert法单独检测胸腔积液结核分枝杆菌的阳性率[3.18%(17/535)、15.30%(54/353)、19.05%(56/294)]明显低于3种方法联合检测痰液+胸腔积液的阳性率[21.87%(117/535)、43.63%(154/353)、47.62%(140/294)](χ ²值分别为85.31、68.16、54.00,P值均<0.01)。在有肺部实质病变的患者中,涂片法、培养法、Xpert法单独检测胸腔积液中结核分枝杆菌的阳性率[3.82% (13/340)、16.30% (37/227)和23.91% (44/184)]明显低于3种方法单独检测痰液的阳性率[30.29% (103/340)、51.10% (116/227)、60.33% (111/184)](χ ²值分别为84.19、61.53、50.04,P值均<0.01)和联合检测痰液+胸腔积液的阳性率[分别为32.06% (109/340)、55.95% (127/227)、67.93% (125/184)](χ ²值分别为92.06、77.32、71.79,P值均<0.01)。以培养为金标准,涂片法、培养法和Xpert法检测痰液+胸腔积液的敏感度[48.36%(59/122)、79.38%(77/97)、80.49%(66/82)]明显高于单独检测胸腔积液的敏感度[8.20%(10/122)、26.80%(26/97)、26.83%(22/82)](χ ²值分别为48.52、53.84、47.47,P值均<0.01);检测痰液+胸腔积液的特异度较单独检测胸腔积液有所下降,其中涂片法检测的差异无统计学意义(χ ²=3.65,P=0.056);而Xpert法和涂片法+Xpert法检测的差异均有统计学意义(χ ²=4.71,P=0.030;χ ²=5.67,P=0.017)。 结论 联合检测痰液和胸腔积液中结核分枝杆菌的阳性检出率高于单独检测,对于疑似结核性胸膜炎的患者,应尽量进行痰液标本的检测,以提高对结核性胸膜炎诊断的参考价值。     

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.     

结核性胸膜炎胸液中纤维蛋白原含量对胸膜肥厚及粘连形成的影响

目的　探讨结核性渗出性胸膜炎胸腔积液纤维蛋白原含量与胸膜肥厚、粘连的关系。方法117例初治结核性渗出性胸膜炎患者按胸腔积液纤维蛋白原含量从低到高分为A、B、C 3组 ,治疗过程中和治疗后测定胸膜厚度 ,评估胸膜粘连发生率。结果 治疗过程中胸膜厚度 :A组与B组比较 (t=2 .5 7,P<0.05 )有显著性差异 ,A组与C组比较 (t=7.15 ,P<0 .0 1)有显著差异性 ,B组与C组比较 (t=2.46 ,P<0 .0 5 )有显著性差异 ;胸膜粘连发生率 :A组与B组比较 (χ²=3.5 1,P>0.05 )无显著性差异 ,A组与C组比较 (χ²=9.87,P<0 .01)有显著性差异 ,B组与C组比较 (χ²=4 .5 1,P<0 .0 5 )有显著性差异。治疗结束时胸膜厚度 :A组与B组比较 (t=1.4 5 ,P>0 .0 5 )无显著性差异 ,A组与C组比较 (t=3.4 6 ,P<0.01)有显著性差异 ,B组与C组比较 (t=2 .89,P<0 .0 1)有显著性差异 ;胸膜粘连发生率 :A组与B组比较 (χ²=0 .10 ,P>0 .0 5 )无显著性差异 ,A组与C组比较 (χ²=4 .36 ,P<0.05)有显著性差异 ,B组与C组比较 (χ²=7.4 9,P<0 .0 1)有显著性差异。结论 胸液纤维蛋白原含量可影响胸膜肥厚度与胸膜粘连发生率。     

T-lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood and pleural effusion in tuberculous pleurisy and carcinomatous pleurisy: analysis by monoclonal antibodies

By using monoclonal antibodies, OKT8(pant), OKT4(inducer/helper),OKT8(suppressor/cytotoxic) T-lymphocyte subsets were examined in 25 patients with tuberculous pleurisy and 15 patients with carcinomatous pleurisy. The results showed that percent and absolute counts of OKT8,OKT4,OKT8 in tuberculous pleural effusion were significantly higher than those in carcinomatous pleural effusion. Percent and absolute counts of OKT8, OKT4, in tuberculous pleural effusion were significantly higher than those in peripheral blood. OKT8% in peripheral blood of carcinomatous pleural effusion was significantly lower than that in peripheral blood of control group. When OKT8% greater than 65, OKT4% greater than 45, OKT8 number/mm8 greater than 1,000, OKT4 number/mm8 greater than 800, OKT8 number/mm8 greater than 500 in pleural effusion, it suggests pleural effusion is tuberculous. when OKT8% less than 55, OKT4% less than 45, OKT5 number/mm8 less than 500, OKT4 number/mm8 less than 300, OKT8 number/mm8 less than 200, it suggests pleural effusion is carcinomatous pleural effusion.     

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia with pleural effusion.

The case history of a 77-year-old lady with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is presented. The diagnosis was difficult due to the simultaneous presence of a pleural effusion and congestive heart failure. Radiological findings and treatment are discussed.     

胸腔积液生物标志物对结核性和恶性胸腔积液的鉴别价值

胸腔积液是一种常见的胸部疾病或并发症,可因多种疾病状态所致。病因上,可为原发胸膜的疾病,也可继发于心、肝、肾、肺、纵隔、脾、卵巢、结缔组织病以及血液系统等疾病;疾病类型包括肿瘤、感染性疾病、器官功能障碍和全身性疾病等,其中心力衰竭、恶性肿瘤、肺炎和结核所致胸腔积液占所有病例的3/4。根据Light标准,胸腔积液可分为渗出性和漏出性胸腔积液(分别简称为渗出液和漏出液)。漏出液患者多存在全身严重基础疾病,如充血性心力衰竭、肝硬化、肾病综合征、心包疾病等;渗出液的病因则更为复杂,以结核性胸腔积液(tuberculous pleural effusion,TPE)和恶性胸腔积液(malignant pleural effusion,MPE)最为常见。     

Update on tuberculous pleural effusion

The possibility of tuberculous pleuritis should be considered in every patient with an undiagnosed pleural effusion, for if this diagnosis is not made the patient will recover only to have a high likelihood of subsequently developing pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis Between 3% and 25% of patients with tuberculosis will have tuberculous pleuritis. The incidence of pleural tuberculosis is higher in patients who are HIV positive. Tuberculous pleuritis usually presents as an acute illness with fever, cough and pleuritic chest pain. The pleural fluid is an exudate that usually has predominantly lymphocytes. Pleural fluid cultures are positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in less than 40% and smears are virtually always negative. The easiest way to establish the diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis in a patient with a lymphocytic pleural effusion is to generally demonstrate a pleural fluid adenosine deaminase level above 40 U/L. Lymphocytic exudates not due to tuberculosis almost always have adenosine deaminase levels below 40 U/L. Elevated pleural fluid levels of γ‐interferon also are virtually diagnostic of tuberculous pleuritis in patients with lymphocytic exudates. In questionable cases the diagnosis can be established by demonstrating granulomas or organisms on tissue specimens obtained via needle biopsy of the pleura or thoracoscopy. The chemotherapy for tuberculous pleuritis is the same as that for pulmonary tuberculosis.     

A case of toxocariasis with eosinophilic pleural effusion

A 76-year-old man admitted for general malaise with fever was found in clinical examination on admission to have eosinophilic pleural effusion, peripheral eosinophilia, and a slightly elevated inflammatory reaction. Immunological examination, including microplate ELISA, showed a high titer of specific antibody against Toxocara canis in both the serum and pleural effusion. We started treatment using albendazole, and found inflammatory findings and serum IgE were ameliorated. Parasitic disease is an important consideration in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilic pleural effusion, and serology is useful in screening for this.