The role of pleural fluid procalcitonin level in the diagnosis of parapneumonic pleural effusion

Abstract

Objective: Procalcitonin (PCT) may lead a more rapid and specific result than other infectious markers in the differentation of infectious diseases from those of noninfectious conditions. In several studies, higher pleural fluid PCT levels in parapneumonic effusion (PPE) than other causes of pleural effusion has been found and it has been reported that it is a useful marker in the diagnosis of PPE. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of pleural fluid PCT levels in the diagnosis of PPE. Materials and Methods: Eighty-seven patients with pleural effusion consisting of 26 transudative pelural effusion, 26 malignant pleural effusion (MPE), 24 PPE and 11 tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) were enrolled in the study. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups for the pleural fluid PCT, serum PCT and pleural fluid PCT/serum PCT ratio. The patients were divided into transudative and exudative groups and there was no difference in the pleural fluid PCT and serum PCT between these two groups. In the PPE group, the correlation between pleural fluid PCT level and pleural fluid albumin, protein, LDH, glucose and ADA was studied and no correlation was found. Conclusion: In our study, in PPE, a diagnostic efficiacy of pleural fluid and serum PCT could not be found.