[A case of tuberculous pleural effusion diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)--with reference to tuberculous pleurisy using polymerase chain reaction].

A 38-year-old man was admitted to hospital because of chest pain and for the evaluation of a right pleural effusion on his chest X-ray film. Pleural effusion was characterized as exudative lymphocyte-predominant fluid with elevation of adenosine deaminase (ADA). Bacteriologic examination of pleural fluid was negative in both smear and culture of the fluid. PPD was positive and ESR was elevated. Mycobacterial DNA was detected in the pleural effusion using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers which amplified a fragment of Is6110. Following treatment (INH, RFP and EB), the right pleural effusion disappeared. We conclude that PCR technique may be very useful in the rapid diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.