Chi-Li Chung, Ching-Yu Yeh, Joen-Rong Sheu, Yi-Chu Chen, Shi-Chuan Chang
BACKGROUND: Repeated thoracenteses is indicated in patients with refractory, symptomatic transudative effusions. However, their effect on cytokines and fibrinolytic activity in pleural transudates remains unclear. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with symptomatic, large amount of free-flowing transudative effusions caused by heart failure were studied. Thoracentesis with drainage of 500 mL of pleural fluid per day was done for 3 consecutive days (days 1 to 3). Pleural fluid characteristics, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-8, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) were measured during each tap...
December 2007: American Journal of the Medical Sciences