Percentage reduction of pleural effusion as a simple predictor of pleural scarring in tuberculous pleuritis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utility of serum and pleural fluid biomarkers for predicting residual pleural scarring (RPS) in tuberculous pleuritis.

METHODOLOGY: A retrospective study of patients with pleural tuberculosis was performed. Demographic data, clinical parameters, haematological indices, serum and pleural fluid biochemistry and pleural effusion area were assessed for correlation with the extent of RPS.

RESULTS

RPS was found in 41.4% of the 70 cases evaluated, with significant pleural scarring being present in 7.1%. It was more common in males (odds ratio 5.55). Among the variables studied, only the percentage reduction of the effusion after 2 weeks of treatment was found to independently predict the extent of RPS (r=-0.502, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

RPS was more common in males and the percentage reduction in pleural effusion on CXR after 2 weeks of treatment was found to be a useful predictor of RPS.