ABSTRACT
AIM: To evaluate the effect of hyaluronate based gel (HAbg) in prevention of pleural thickening and adhesion in patients with tuberculous pleural effusions. METHODS: 52 patients with middle amount of tuberculous thoracic fluid accumulated, fluid bound, and pleura thickened more than 2 mm were divided into two groups at random. The patients of two groups were all given standard treatments with anti tuberculous drugs. HAbg was injected into intra thoracic cavity in treatment group (27 patients), while saline (NS) was introduced into intra thoracic cavity in control group (25 patients). Before and after HAbg injection, thoracic fluid routine and protein quantification were tested respectively. Pulmonary functions were measured after 2 weeks and 3 months of thoracic fluid absorption. RESULTS: Patients treated with HAbg showed significantly thinner pleura, lower proteins and white blood cell count in thoracic fluid, and higher FEV1% and FVC% for their pulmonary function in comparison with the control group. CONCLUSION: Intrathoracic injection of HAbg can prevent pleural thickening and improve the lung function in patients with excess fluid of tuberculous thoracic cavity.