PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - K. Psathakis
AU  - E. Calderón-Osuna
AU  - B. Romero-Romero
AU  - J. Martin-Juan
AU  - A. Romero-Falcón
AU  - F. Rodriguez-Panadero
TI  - The neutrophilic and fibrinolytic response to talc can predict the outcome of pleurodesis
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.06.00097505
DP  - 2006 Apr 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 817--821
VI  - 27
IP  - 4
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/27/4/817.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/27/4/817.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2006 Apr 01; 27
AB  - It was hypothesised that monitoring neutrophil and d-dimer (DD) levels into the pleural fluid, after talc instillation, could predict the outcome of pleurodesis. The current authors investigated a total of 168 patients with malignant pleural effusion, who were treated with talc poudrage. According to the outcome the patients were categorised into one of two groups, either successful or failed pleurodesis. In all cases, pleural fluid neutrophils and DDs were determined on serial measurements at 0, 3, 24 and 48 h after the procedure. The time course of these parameters was assessed in both groups and the time point at which they could better predict the outcome was further explored. Neutrophils rose rapidly after talc poudrage in both groups, reaching a plateau at 24 h, although in successful pleurodesis this response was significantly higher. DD dropped markedly at 24 h in the group with the successful outcome, but it did not show significant changes in the other group. A cut-off value of 61% for neutrophils and 61 mg·L−1 for the DD at 24 h yielded the best prognosis for successful pleurodesis. The current authors conclude that serial measurements of neutrophil and d-dimer values into the pleural fluid after talc poudrage could be used as predictors of the outcome of pleurodesis.