ABSTRACT
The present study was undertaken in order to examine the value of the simultaneous pleural fluid and serum lyzozyme determination in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion. Lysozyme was measured in the pleural fluid and serum of 51 patients with pleural effusions: 15 patients with tuberculous effusion [TB], 15 with malignant effusion [CA], 11 with transudates [TS] and +/- 10 with empyemas [EM]. Serum lysozyme did not show significant differences between different groups. The mean level of pleural fluid lysozymes was statistically significantly increased in tuberculous effusions and empyemas compared to malignant effusions and transudates [P