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Transforming growth factor beta‐1 level in pleural effusion
Author(s) -
CEYHAN Berrin Bagci,
DEMIRALP Emel,
KARAKURT Zuha L.,
KARAKURT Sait,
SUNGUR Murat
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1843.2003.00474.x
Subject(s) - medicine , parapneumonic effusion , pleural effusion , empyema , transudate , gastroenterology , effusion , heart failure , pleural fluid , pathology , surgery
Objective: Transforming growth factor‐β 1 is an important immunomodulator. The diagnostic role of TGF‐β 1 has not been systematically investigated in pleural effusion. Methodology: A prospective clinical study of 45 patients (23 men, 22 women; mean age 49 ± 21 years) with pleural effusion was performed. Of these patients, 19 had malignant pleural effusion, 14 had tuberculous pleural effusion, seven had empyema/parapneumonic pleural effusion, and five had transudative pleural effusion due to congestive heart failure. The concentrations of TGF‐β 1 were measured by ELISA in all pleural fluid samples and in serum samples only from patients with malignant and tuberculous pleural effusions. Results: The median TGF‐β 1 levels of malignant, tuberculous and empyema/parapneumonic pleural effusions were 7.25 ng/mL, 7.81 ng/mL, and 9.75 ng/mL, respectively. There was no significant difference between them. The median TGF‐β 1 level was 5.62 ng/mL in the transudate pleural effusion group and it was significantly lower than that in the empyema/parapneumonic group ( P < 0.05). The pleural fluid TGF‐β 1 levels did not correlate with cell profiles of the pleural fluid. The median serum TGF‐β 1 levels in malignant and tuberculous pleural effusion groups were 7.38 ng/mL and 7.38 ng/mL, respectively. There was no significant difference between the levels of TGF‐β 1 in paired samples of serum and pleural fluid. Conclusions: This study shows that TGF‐β 1 concentrations in exudative pleural effusions are higher than those in transudative effusions secondary to congestive heart failure but TGF‐β1 concentrations do not assist in differentiating exudative effusions.