Pleural fluid viscosity may help identifying malignant pleural effusions

Abstract

High pleural fluid viscosity may suggest a potential diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion.

Respirology year‐in‐review 2008: Clinical science

“…IL‐8 provided the most benefit (sensitivity 84%, specificity 82%), but overall IL‐8 and CRP were not superior and provided similar diagnostic accuracy as had been reported for other classic parameters such as pleural fluid pH. An interesting study postulated that neoplastic cells may increase pleural fluid viscosity 22 and found that it was a significant determinant with an odds ratio of > 6 (95% CI: 1.32–29.8). Further investigations in other disease conditions associated with exudates are clearly merited.…”

Intrapleural Hyaluronidase in Viscous Malignant Mesothelioma Pleural Effusion

“…Pleural fluid viscosity is influenced by its cellular constituents and macromolecule composition. 1 Hyaluronic acid is a ubiquitous high molecular weight linear glycosaminoglycan that is present in abundance in the extracellular matrix. 2 Hyaluronic acid has been detected in the pleural fluid of a variety of malignant and nonmalignant conditions that includes mesothelioma, for which it also has diagnostic and prognostic significance.…”

Ambulatory Intrapleural Fibrinolytic Therapy in Highly Viscous Recurrent Malignant Pleural Effusion

“…Pleural fluid viscosity is influenced by cellular constituents and macromolecule composition, with protein being the major component [3]. Highly viscous pleural effusions are generally due to an exudative process such as infection or malignancy [4].…”