Authors : USHA KIRAN POTHU, Narayana Rao B
Volume : 6
Issue : 1
Year : 2016
Page No : 516-522
Context: Pleural effusion occurs in a variety of diseases. Determining the cause of pleural effusion is not always easy. Simple and cost effective biochemical markers can be used so that unnecessary interventions to the patient can be avoided and help the physicians to intervene early. Aims: To determine the role of serum/ pleural fluid ratios of protein and LDH and serum effusion albumin gradient in distinguishing transudates and exudates Settings and Design: The present study included patients with pleural effusion with different aetiologies to compare transudates and exudates in both pleural fluid and venous blood consisting of 100 patients Methods and Material: All the parameters were analyzed on Siemens Dimension Expand Plus. Statistical analysis used: We analyzed the data using student's unpaired t-test. Statistical software used was graphpad quickcalcs. Results: Mean values of protein, albumin and LDH were comparatively higher in exudates than transudates. Also pleural fluid serum ratio of LDH and protein were higher in exudates. Whereas serum effusion albumin gradient (SEAG) was lower in exudates. Conclusions: SEAG can be considered as a useful parameter to differentiate pleural effusions if mixed causes were present. Pleural fluid LDH can independently be used as a marker to distinguish rather than its ratio to the serum level.