Potential diagnostic value of pleural fluid cytokines levels for tuberculous pleural effusion

Abstract

Background: Tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) is one of the most common forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Patients with tuberculous or malignant pleural effusions (MPE) frequently have similar clinical manifestations and pleural fluid profile. New biomarkers for the differential diagnosis of TPE are required. Objective: We sought to determine of whether cytokine profiles in the pleural effusion of patients were suitable as tools for the differential diagnosis of TPE. Methods: 30 patients with TPE, 30 patients with MPE, 14 patients with empyema and 14 patients with parapneumonic effusion were enrolled consecutively from the Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, Iran between Dec 2018-Dec 2019. The levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-18, IL-27, CXCL-8, CCL-1 and IP-10 were determined in pleural effusions by ELISA along with measurements of adenosine deaminase (ADA). Results: The levels of all analytes measured except IL-18 were higher in TPE compared with non-TPE subjects (all p < 0.01). The best predictors of TPE were combined ADA.IL-27 (optimal cut-off value = 42.68 103.U.ng/L2, sensitivity 100%, specificity 98.28%, p ≤ 0.0001), ADA (optimal cut off value 27.5 IU/L, sensitivity 90%, specificity 96.5%, p ≤ 0.0001) and IL-27 (optimal cut-off value = 2363 pg/ml, sensitivity 96.7%, specificity 98.3%, p ≤ 0.0001). A high level of IL-6 (optimal cut-off value = 3260 pg/ml, sensitivity 100%, specificity 67.2%, p ≤ 0.0001), CXCL-8 (optimal cut-off value = 144.5 pg/m, sensitivity 93.3%, specificity 58.6%, p ≤ 0.0001), CCL-1 (optimal cut-off value = 54 pg/mL, sensitivity 100%, specificity 70.7%, p ≤ 0.0001) and IP-10 (optimal cut-off value = 891.9 pg/mL, sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 48.3%, p = 0.0001) were also predictive of TPE. Conclusion: High ADA.IL-27, ADA and IL-27 levels differentiate between TPE and non-TPE with improved specificity and diagnostic accuracy.

The diagnostic value and validation of Th17-related cytokines in tuberculosis pleural effusion

“…Then in M.tb infection, the various levels of cytokines contribute to determining outcomes of infection [11]. Studies found that cytokines of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-31, IL-33, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IFN-γ, may contribute to more e cient diagnosis strategies in the management of tuberculous pleurisy [12][13][14][15][16]. But there was no synchronous comparison of the diagnostic value of each cytokine in tuberculous pleurisy.…”