Objective: To propose a new classification criterion for the differentiation between pleural exudates and transudates-quantifying total proteins in pleural fluid (TP-PF) and lactate dehydrogenase in pleural fluid (LDH-PF) exclusively-as well as to compare this new criterion with the classical criterion in terms of diagnostic yield. Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study with a within-subject design, comprising 181 patients with pleural effusion treated at two university hospitals in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 2003 and. The diagnostic parameters included in the classical criterion were identified, as were those included in the new criterion. Results: Of the 181 patients, 152 and 29 were diagnosed with pleural exudates and pleural transudates, respectively. For the classical criterion, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the diagnosis of pleural exudates were, respectively, 99.8%, 68.6%, and 94.5%, whereas the corresponding values for the diagnosis of pleural transudates were 76.1%, 90.1%, and 87.6%. For the new criterion (cut-off points set at 3.4 g/dL for TP-PF and 328.0 U/L for LDH-PF), the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the diagnosis of exudates were, respectively, 99.4%, 72.6%, and 99.2%, whereas the corresponding values for the diagnosis of transudates were 98.5%, 83.4%, and 90.0%. The accuracy of the new criterion for the diagnosis of pleural exudates was significantly greater than was that of the classical criterion (p = 0.0022). Conclusions: The diagnostic yield was comparable between the two criteria studied. Therefore, the new classification criterion can be used in daily practice. Keywords:Pleural effusion/diagnosis; Pleural effusion/classification; Exudates and transudates. ResumoObjetivo: Propor um novo critério de classificação para a diferenciação entre exsudatos e transudatos pleurais através da dosagem de proteínas totais no líquido pleural (PT-LP) e de desidrogenase lática no líquido pleural (DHL-LP) exclusivamente, assim como comparar o rendimento diagnóstico entre esse novo critério com o critério clássico. Métodos: Estudo observacional, transversal de tipo individualizado, no qual foram selecionados 181 pacientes com derrame pleural tratados em dois hospitais universitários no estado do Rio de Janeiro (RJ) entre 2003 e 2006. Os parâmetros diagnósticos incluídos no critério clássico, assim como os do novo critério, foram determinados. Resultados: Dos 181 pacientes, 152 e 29 foram diagnosticados, respectivamente, com exsudato pleural e transudato pleural. A sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia do critério clássico para o diagnóstico de exsudato pleural foram, respectivamente, de 99,8%, 68,6% e 94,5%, enquanto, para o diagnóstico de transudato pleural, essas foram de 76,1%, 90,1% e 87,6%. Utilizando-se os pontos de corte de 3,4 g/dL para a dosagem de PT-LP e de 328,0 U/L para aquela de DHL-LP (novo critério), a sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia foram de, respectivamente, 99,4%, 72,6% e 99,2%, para o diagnóstico de exs...

Background. An initial step in the evaluation of patients with pleural effusion syndrome (PES) is to determine whether the pleural fluid is a transudate or an exudate. Objectives. To investigate total adenosine deaminase (ADA) as a biomarker to classify pleural transudates and exudates. Methods. An assay of total ADA in pleural fluids (P-ADA) was observed using a commercial kit in a population-based cohort study. Results. 157 pleural fluid samples were collected from untreated individuals with PES due to several causes. The cause most prevalent in transudate samples (21%, n = 33 / 157 ) was congestive heart failure (79%, 26/33) and that among exudate samples (71%, n = 124 / 157 ) was tuberculosis (28.0%, 44/124). There was no significant difference in the proportion of either sex between the transudate and exudate groups. The median values of P-ADA were significantly different ( P < 0.0001 ) between both total exudates (18.4 U/L; IQR, 9.85-41.4) and exudates without pleural tuberculosis (11.0 U/L; IQR, 7.25-19.75) and transudates (6.85; IQR, 2.67-11.26). For exudates, the AUC was 0.820 (95% CI, 0.751-0.877; P < 0.001 ), with excellent discrimination. The optimum cut-off point in the ROC curve was determined as the level that provided the maximum positive likelihood ratio (PLR; 14.64; 95% CI, 2.11-101.9) and was22.0 U/L. For transudates, the AUC was 0.8245 (95% CI, 0.7470-0.9020; P < 0.0001 ). Internal validation of the AUC after 1000 resamples was evaluated with a tolerance minor than 2%. The clinical utility was equal to 92% (95% CI, 0.84 to 0.96, P < 0.05 ).Conclusions. P-ADA is a useful biomarker for distinguishing pleural exudates from transudates.

Introduction: The GINA and the ATS do not mention that the forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF 25%-75%) play importance in evaluation of airflow obstruction in asthma. Objectives: To investigate whether the evaluation of the FEF25%-75% in children and adolescents with asthma sensibilized to house dust mites (HDM) plays an important hole in airway obstruction from small airways. Methods. A retrospective study was done in Hospital Municipal Jesus (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Thirty-four children and adolescents with asthma were enrolled between January 2016 and December 2019. The FEIA (Immuno CAP®) was used to measure total and specific IgE antibodies to HDM. Standard reference value for small airways diseases with FEF 25%-75% was considered abnormal if below at 65% of predicted with FEV1/FVC ratio above or equal at 80%. Results. There was a significant difference between the mean ages of the sensitized (n=26; 9.8±2.53) and non-sensitized participants (n=8; 7.75±1.28) to HDM (P=0.0353). Male and female sexes were not significant in both groups (P=0.3698 and P=0.3298, respectively). If the FEF 25%-75% (L/s) was not valued in our study, 62% of sensitized participants (44.27±9.26) and 38% not sensitized (56.62±16.56) to HDM would be considered “according to normal reference values” (t=1.86; P=0.0719). Conclusions. The asthma in this study presented an obstructive respiratory disorder of small airways, regardless of a sensitization or a non-sensitization to HDM. The obstructive respiratory disorder of small airways was present, even with normal spirometry in the evaluation of large airways.

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