scholarly journals Role of Pleural Fluid C-Reactive Protein in the Aetiological Diagnosis of Exudative Pleural Effusion

Author(s):  
Praveen Radhakrishnan ◽  
S Mathanraj

Introduction: Pleural effusions, the result of the accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, are a major diagnostic problem due to its anatomical nature with no direct access. There is variation in management, depending on the pleural disease. The pleural effusion can either exhibit specific or nonspecific characteristics. Aim: To determine the clinical significance and diagnostic role of pleural fluid C-Reactive Protein (CRP) level in the aetiological diagnosis of exudative pleural effusion. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed during the study period of September 2013 to December 2014. A total of 53 Patients identified with pleural effusion were recruited in the study and pleural fluid was subjected for the measurement of CRP level. Pleural fluid CRP was assessed with CRP-Turbilatex-Quantitative turbidimetric immunoassay method which is based on the principle agglutination reaction. The data was subjected to statistical analysis using Epi info software version 3.4.3. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to illustrate the diagnostic ability. The smallest cut-off value was the minimum observed test value minus 1, and the largest cut-off value was the maximum observed test value plus 1. All the other cut-off values were the averages of two consecutive ordered observed test values. Results: Among the 53 patients in the study, 42 had exudative effusions (79.20%) and 11 had transudative effusions (20.80%). The common cause of exudative effusion was tuberculosis 26 (61.90%), followed by 9 malignancy (21.40%) and 7 parapneumonic effusion (16.70%). In our study, the pleural fluid CRP was statistically significant (p<0.001) marker to differentiate exudative effusions with CRP-value <30 suggestive of malignancy, CRP-value 30-50 mg/L suggestive of tuberculosis and CRP-value >70 mg/L suggestive of parapneumonic effusions. Conclusion: Determination of pleural fluid CRP is a useful diagnostic marker for differentiating exudative and transudative effusions. Also, Pleural fluid CRP is a statistically significant marker in differentiating tubercular effusions from nontubercular exudative effusions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-172
Author(s):  
Raghurama Sharvegar ◽  
Chandrik Babu S R

The cause of pleural effusion is due to systemic or localized pathology and based on the etiology involved the pleural effusion is either classified into transudate and exudate supported by Light’s Criteria. Other than the marker used in Lights Criteria C reactive protein is said to be studied to determine its role in classifying exudate and transudate. The present study was done to assess the role of C reactive protein in diagnosing pleural effusion.The cross-sectional study was conducted by the Department of Chest and Respiratory Medicine at Chamarajanagara Institute of Medical Sciences from June 2019 to May 2020. A total of 120 cases of clinically confirmed cases of Pleural Effusion Cases were selected for the purpose of the study among the outpatient and inpatient in the Department of General Medicine and Respiratory Medicine Department. The Mean CRP of 1.05±1.09 was found to be cut off value for differentiating between transudate and exudate Pleural fluid. At the Cut off value of 1.05 CRP it was found to be having a sensitivity of 75.4% and 77.6% of sensitivity. From the present study we could conclude that the CRP Value of 1.05mg/dl was found to be having a good specificity and sensitivity in classifying the pleural fluid into transudate and exudate. Finally we could conclude that CRP can be used as a Biomarker to differentiate between Transudate and Exudate when Lights criteria falls in borderline.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-23
Author(s):  
Subash Pant ◽  
Sanjeet Krishna Shrestha ◽  
Lucky Sharma ◽  
Bibechana Shrestha

Background: C-reactive protein in both pleural fluid and serum has been found to be higher in tubercular pleural effusion than in other causes of pleural effusion. Objectives: The main aim of this study was to find out the diagnostic value of C-reactive protein in patients withlymphocytic pleural effusion. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 90 patients with pleural effusion who underwent thoracocentesis at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. The complete biochemical tests of pleural fluid and serum were performed. The C-reactive protein concentrations of both pleural fluid and serum were then measured from samples from patients with lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion. Results: Ninety patients with exudative lymphocytic pleural effusion were included. Male patients were 56 (62.2%) and female were 34 (37.8%) with the male to female ratio of 1.64. Mean age of the patients was 51±21.54 (Mean ± Standard Deviation). The pleural fluid C-reactive protein levels in tubercular pleural effusion were higher (48.87±24.19 mg/dl) compared to non-tubercular group (38.30±17 mg/dl; p<0.001). Similarly, the serum fluid C-reactive protein levels in tubercular pleural effusion were higher (29.60±13mg/dl) compared to non-tubercular group (18.14±9.2mg/dl; p< 0.001). The sensitivity of pleural fluid C-reactive protein level in diagnosing tubercular pleural effusion was 86%. Conclusion: Simple and inexpensive test like C-reactive protein is useful in the diagnostic workup of lymphocytic pleural effusions. High C-reactive protein levels are very suggestive of tubercular pleural effusion.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e027659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raoping Tu ◽  
Kuan-Yu Pan ◽  
Guoxi Cai ◽  
Taro Yamamoto ◽  
Hui-Xin Wang

ObjectivesThis study aims to examine the association between self-rated health (SRH) and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) among adults aged 45 to 101 years old in rural areas of China, and to explore the role of education in the association.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThe study population was derived from two databases in China: Nanping project (NP) and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).ParticipantsThere were 646 participants from a rural area of Nanping (NP) and 8555 rural participants from a national representative sample of China (CHARLS).MethodsCRP was measured using a high sensitivity sandwich enzyme immunoassay in the NP and immunoturbidimetric assay in the CHARLS. SRH was assessed by SRH questionnaires and categorised into good and poor. Education was measured by the maximum years of schooling and dichotomised into illiterate and literate. Multivariate linear regression models were used to study the associations.ResultsCompared to people with good SRH, those with poor SRH had higher levels of CRP in NP (β=0.16, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.34) and in CHARLS (β=0.07, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.11) after adjusting for potential confounders. Similar findings were observed in the pooled population (β=0.08, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.12), especially in men (β=0.13, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.20) and in literate people (β=0.12, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.18).ConclusionPoor SRH may be a predicator of elevated levels of CRP among middle-aged and older people in rural areas, especially in men and literate people.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 081-090
Author(s):  
Arushi Mohan ◽  
Padmini SN ◽  
Brunda MS ◽  
Abhinaya Shekhar ◽  
Paul Matthew ◽  
...  

Background: COVID-19 is a novel disease triggered by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a beta coronavirus similar to MERS-CoV and SARS CoV. Inflammatory markers have a vital role in the pathogenesis of nCOVID 19; understanding the importance of these inflammatory markers in determining disease status is essential given the impact of the disease on healthcare. Thus, being able to triage cases with minimal tests is momentous to capture, which we have investigated as per our study guidelines of the role of inflammatory markers such as D-dimer, CRP (C - reactive protein), Ferritin, LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase) in patients with COVID 19. In addition, limited data is available comparing the utility of these inflammatory markers to predict the following parameters as the need for ICU, oxygen support requirement, and duration of in-hospital stay, which can help guide the management protocol. Aim: This study aims to determine markers associated with poor prognosis in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Objectives: 1) To assess the inflammatory markers that are routinely investigated in COVID- 19 patients. 2) To determine the most probable factor to estimate severity in COVID- 19 and thus predict prognosis. Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional observational study of patients who tested SARS COV 2 positive by RT PCR. The laboratory inflammatory markers, namely Lactate Dehydrogenase, C reactive protein, D-dimer, Ferritin, were assessed in the selected patients, and their clinical data and demographic details were taken into account. The parameters considered for contributing to the severity included the number of days of stay in the hospital, oxygen requirement, and ICU needs. Analyses relied upon analysis of variance for cross-sectional study design and a P< 0.05 statistical significance criterion. Results: There was a statistically significant difference found between oxygen requirement and D dimer (p<0.001), LDH (p= 0.002), and CRP (p= 0.024). There was a statistically significant difference found between admission to ICU and D Dimer (p= 0.001). Conclusion: A statistically significant association between the increasing D-dimer levels and all the outcome measures considered was found. The D-dimer, LDH, and CRP help predict oxygen requirement, and all the inflammatory markers can predict the number of days of stay in the hospital.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghanshyam Shantha ◽  
Anita A Kumar ◽  
Vijay Jeyachandran ◽  
Deepan Rajamanickam ◽  
K Rajkumar ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 66-69
Author(s):  
Lamture Yeshwant Ramrao ◽  
Varsha Gajbhiye ◽  
Vikram Panjabrao Vaidya ◽  
Md. Jawed Akther ◽  
Mangesh Padmawar

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-145
Author(s):  
Krishna Chandra Devkota ◽  
S Hamal ◽  
PP Panta

Pleural effusion is present when there is >15ml of fluid is accumulated in the pleural space. It can be divided into two types; exudative and transudative pleural effusion. Tuberculosis and parapneumonic effusion are the common cause of exudative pleural effusion whereas heart failure accounts for most of the cases of transudative pleural effusion. This study was a hospital based cross sectional study performed at Nepal Medical College during the period of January 2016-December 2016. A total of 50 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Pleural effusion was confirmed by clinical examination and radiology. After confirmation of pleural effusion, pleural fluid was aspirated and was analysed for protein, LDH, cholesterol. The Heffner criteria was compared with Light criteria to classify exudative or transudative pleural effusion. Among 50 patients, 30 were male and 20 were female. The mean age of patient was 45.4±21.85 years. The sensitivity and specificity of using Light criteria to detect the two type of pleural effusion was 100% and 90.9%, whereas using Heffner criteria was 94.87%, 100% respectively(P<0.01). There are variety of causes for development of pleural effusion and no one criteria is definite to differentiate between exudative or transudative effusion. In this study Light criteria was more sensitive whereas Heffner criteria was more specific to classify exudative pleural effusion. Hence a combination of criteria might be useful in case where there is difficulty to identify the cause of pleural effusion.


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