Tuberculosis pleural en paciente pediátrico: reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Pleural tuberculosis in a pediatric patient: case report and review

Tuberculosis (TB) is a common cause of pleural effusion in young people from endemic areas. Among the forms of extrapulmonary TB in people with immunodeficiencies, the most frequent localization is the pleura. The use of immunological and molecular biology tests for the diagnosis of TB in pleural fluid and other locations with high sensitivity and specificity is highlighted. We present a clinical case with the objective of giving an overview of the treatment of the patient with suspected pleural tuberculosis

La Tuberculosis (TB) es una causa común de derrame pleural en jóvenes en zonas endémicas. Dentro de las formas de TB extrapulmonar en personas que cursan con inmunodeficiencias, la localización más frecuente es la TB pleural. Se destaca el uso de las pruebas inmunológicas y de biología molecular para el diagnóstico de TB en líquido pleural y de otras localizaciones con una elevada sensibilidad y especificidad. Se presenta un caso clínico con el objetivo de describir una visión general del abordaje del paciente con sospecha de tuberculosis pleural

Utility of adenosine deaminase (ADA), PCR & thoracoscopy in differentiating tuberculous & non-tuberculous pleural effusion complicating chronic kidney disease.

Background & objectives: Pleural effusion is a common occurrence in patients with late-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). In developing countries, many effusions remain undiagnosed after pleural fluid analysis (PFA) and patients are empirically treated with antitubercular therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of adenosine deaminase (ADA), nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) and medical thoracoscopy in distinguishing tubercular and non-tubercular aetiologies in exudative pleural effusions complicating CKD. Methods: Consecutive stage 4 and 5 CKD patients with pleural effusions underwent PFA including ADA and PCR [65 kDa gene; multiplex (IS6110, protein antigen b, MPB64)]. Patients with exudative pleural effusion undiagnosed after PFA underwent medical thoracoscopy. Results: All 107 patients underwent thoracocentesis with 45 and 62 patients diagnosed as transudative and exudative pleural effusions, respectively. Twenty six of the 62 patients underwent medical thoracoscopy. Tuberculous pleurisy was diagnosed in six while uraemic pleuritis was diagnosed in 20 subjects. The sensitivity and specificity of pleural fluid ADA, 65 kDa gene PCR, and multiplex PCR were 66.7 and 90 per cent, 100 and 50 per cent, and 100 and 100 per cent, respectively. Thoracoscopy was associated with five complications in three patients. Interpretation & conclusions: Uraemia remains the most common cause of pleural effusion in CKD even in high TB prevalence country. Multiplex PCR and thoracoscopy are useful investigations in the diagnostic work-up of pleural effusions complicating CKD while the sensitivity and/or specificity of ADA and 65 kDa gene PCR is poor.

Pleuresía tuberculosa como manifestación de reconstitución inmune en un paciente con sida: Descripción de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Tuberculous pleurisy as the manifestation of immune reconstitution in an AIDS patient: Description of a case and a review of the literature

El síndrome inflamatorio de reconstitución inmune es una complicación importante y precoz en respuesta a la implementación de la terapia antirretroviral de gran actividad, especialmente en pacientes con tuberculosis. Se describe el caso de un paciente de 35 años, con serología reactiva para HIV desde mayo 2011, y bajo terapia antirretroviral de gran actividad desde julio del mismo año. Se presentó a la consulta con síntomas de derrame pleural, y se le diagnosticó pleuresía tuberculosa. El paciente presentó una mejora en los síntomas generales y respiratorios a partir del quinto día de tratamiento.

É possível diferenciar derrames pleurais linfocíticos secundários a tuberculose ou linfoma através de variáveis clínicas e laboratoriais? / Differentiating between tuberculosis-related and lymphoma-related lymphocytic pleural effusions by measuring clinical and laboratory variables: Is it possible?

OBJETIVO: Descrever características clínicas e laboratoriais em pacientes com derrames pleurais linfocíticos secundários a tuberculose ou linfoma, a fim de identificar as variáveis que possam contribuir no diagnóstico diferencial dessas doenças. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo com 159 pacientes adultos HIV negativos com derrame pleural linfocítico secundário a tuberculose ou linfoma (130 e 29 pacientes, respectivamente) tratados no Ambulatório da Pleura, Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo (SP), entre outubro de 2008 e março de 2010. RESULTADOS: A média de idade e de duração dos sintomas foi menor no grupo tuberculose que no grupo linfoma. Os níveis pleurais de proteínas, albumina, colesterol, amilase e adenosina desaminase (ADA), assim como os níveis séricos de proteínas, albumina e amilase, foram maiores no grupo tuberculose, enquanto os níveis séricos de colesterol e triglicérides foram maiores no grupo linfoma. As contagens de leucócitos e linfócitos no líquido pleural foram maiores no grupo tuberculose. Células malignas estavam ausentes no grupo tuberculose, entretanto, linfócitos atípicos foram observados em 4 desses pacientes. No grupo linfoma, a citologia para células neoplásicas foi positiva, suspeita e negativa em 51,8%, 24,1% e 24,1% dos pacientes, respectivamente. A imunofenotipagem do líquido pleural foi conclusiva na maioria dos pacientes com linfoma. CONCLUSÕES: Nossos resultados demonstram semelhanças clínicas e laboratoriais entre os pacientes com tuberculose ou linfoma. Embora os níveis de proteínas e ADA no líquido pleural tendam a ser mais elevados no grupo tuberculose que no grupo linfoma, mesmo essas variáveis mostraram uma sobreposição. Entretanto, nenhum paciente com tuberculose apresentou níveis de ADA no líquido pleural inferiores ao ponto de corte (40 U/L).

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients with tuberculosis-related or lymphoma-related lymphocytic pleural effusions, in order to identify the variables that might contribute to differentiating between these diseases. METHODS: This was a retrospective study involving 159 adult HIV-negative patients with tuberculosis-related or lymphoma-related lymphocytic effusions (130 and 29 patients, respectively), treated between October of 2008 and March of 2010 at the Pleural Diseases Outpatient Clinic of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas Heart Institute, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS: Mean age and the mean duration of symptoms were lower in the tuberculosis group than in the lymphoma group. The levels of proteins, albumin, cholesterol, amylase, and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in pleural fluid, as well as the serum levels of proteins, albumin, and amylase, were higher in the tuberculosis group, whereas serum cholesterol and triglycerides were higher in the lymphoma group. Pleural fluid leukocyte and lymphocyte counts were higher in the tuberculosis group. Of the tuberculosis group patients, none showed malignant cells; however, 4 showed atypical lymphocytes. Among the lymphoma group patients, cytology for neoplastic cells was positive, suspicious, and negative in 51.8%, 24.1%, and 24.1%, respectively. Immunophenotyping of pleural fluid was conclusive in most of the lymphoma patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate clinical and laboratory similarities among the patients with tuberculosis or lymphoma. Although protein and ADA levels in pleural fluid tended to be higher in the tuberculosis group than in the lymphoma group, even these variables showed an overlap. However, none of the tuberculosis group patients had pleural fluid ADA levels below the 40-U/L cut-off point.

Derrame pleural / Pleural effusion

El derrame pleural es una complicación frecuente de afecciones pulmonares que involucran a la pleura, como el cáncer y la tuberculosis pulmonar, entre otros. El líquido pleural puede ser trasudado o exudado. La historia clínica es fundamental en el estudio del derrame pleural. La Rx de tórax, el ultrasonido torácico y la TC de tórax, ayudan a confirmar la sospecha clínica. Los aspectos macroscópicos más comunes del líquido pleural son el seroso y el hemorrágico. El análisis bioquímico completo y los criterios de Light clasifican el derrame pleural y orientan gran parte del diagnóstico. El cultivo bacteriológico, micológico y para micobacterias, tanto del líquido como del tejido pleural, deben practicarse de rutina. El estudio citomorfológico y la citología del mismo, así como la biopsia de pleura, siguen siendo herramientas claves. En la tuberculosis pleural, deben realizarse los estudios convencionales para el líquido, así como la Adenosina deaminasa, como método eficaz que debería ser utilizado de rutina en nuestro medio. El interferón gamma en el líquido pleural, es una prueba sensible y específica y las pruebas de amplificación de ácidos nucleicos son útiles, pero deben ser realizadas e interpretadas en el contexto de la historia clínica y los estudios convencionales

Pleural effusion is a common complication of pulmonary disorders, such as lung cancer and tuberculosis, among others. The medical history is crucial in the study of pleural effusion. The chest X-ray, ultrasound and chest CT scan of the chest will help confirm the clinical suspicion. The most common macroscopic aspects of the pleural fluid are serous and hemorrhagic. The full biochemical analysis and the Light criteria will classify pleural effusion and to lead the diagnosis. The bacteriological culture, while mycological mycobacteria and fluid as pleural tissue, must be practiced routinely. The survey of cytological cytomorphology as well as the pleural biopsy are key tools. In pleural tuberculosis, conventional studies should be practised for the pleural fluid, as well as adenosine deaminase, which is effective and should be used routinely. Gamma interferon test in the pleural fluid is sensitive and specific and nucleic acid amplification is useful but should be used and interpreted in the context of the clinical history and conventional studies

Factors Influencing Residual Pleural Opacity in Tuberculous Pleural Effusion

Tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) leads to residual pleural opacity (RPO) in a significant proportion of cases. The aim of this study was to investigate which TPE patients would have RPO following the treatment. This study was performed prospectively for a total of 60 TPE patients, who underwent pleural fluid analysis on the initial visit and chest radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans before and after the administration of antituberculous medication. At the end of antituberculous medication, the incidence of RPO was 68.3% (41/60) on CT with a range of 2-50 mm. Compared with the non-RPO group, the RPO group had a longer symptom duration and lower pleural fluid glucose level. On initial CT, loculation, extrapleural fat proliferation, increased attenuation of extrapleural fat, and pleura-adjacent atelectasis were more frequent, and parietal pleura was thicker in the RPO group compared with the non-RPO group. By multivariate analysis, extrapleural fat proliferation, loculated effusion, and symptom duration were found to be predictors of RPO in TPE. In conclusion, RPO in TPE may be predicted by the clinico-radiologic parameters related to the chronicity of the effusion, such as symptom duration and extrapleural fat proliferation and loculated effusion on CT.

Responsive treatment of pleural effusion due to probable tuberculosis infection.

Early diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis disease is crucial for initiating treatment and interrupting disease transmission. In keeping with the pathophysiology of disease, bacteriological evidence in extra-pulmonary tuberculosis proves to be difficult. Clinical judgment and radiographic findings are important to establish diagnosis and to evaluate treatment response. A case of 27 year-old-male with shortness of breath and associated TB symptoms is reported. The tuberculin test was highly positive and chest X-ray showed massive right-lung pleural effusion. Pleural analysis showed exudates with high mononuclear cells (98%), protein level of 5.0 g/dL, glucose level of 87 mg/dL, and high LDH level (1240 IU/L). The acid-fast bacilli (AFB) tests were negative for pleural fluid and sputum. Cultures of fluid and sputum were also negative. After being treated adequately with non-specific treatment, which showed no improvement and having undergone pleural puncture for his treatment and diagnosis, the patient started to have antituberculosis treatment. His condition was improved significantly as shown by a serial of chest X-ray follow-up.

Comparison of telomerase activity between malignant and tuberculous pleural effusions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if telomerase activity can differentiate malignant from tuberculous pleural effusions. DESIGN: Telomerase activity in malignant and tuberculous pleural effusions was measured in a blinded manner using a PCR-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifty-two patients with lymphocytic exudative pleural effusions were identified on thoracocentasis over a period of 18 months. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was detected in 34% of malignant pleural fluid samples and 50% of tuberculous pleural effusions. The positive rate of telomerase activity was 30.7% for primary lung cancer and 37.5% for metastatic pleural effusion. The sensitivity and specificity of telomerase activity assay were extremely low (35.7% and 52.9%, respectively), compared with that of cytological examination (52.6% and 65.4%, respectively). Moreover the diagnostic accuracy of telomerase activity in combination with cytology was even lower than cytological examination alone (46.7% vs. 60%, respectively). This finding was in contrast to previous reports and demonstrated that the detection rate of telomerase activity in tuberculous pleural effusions was greater than that observed in malignant pleural exudates. CONCLUSION: Telomerase activity does not appear to be a useful marker for differentiating malignant from tuberculous effusions.

Tuberculose pleural / Tuberculous pleural effusions

O derrame pleural tuberculoso pode ser devido a uma manifestação da forma primária da doença ou da reativação de uma infecção latente pelo M. tuberculosis. Os avanços nos métodos laboratoriais contribuíram sobremaneira para um melhor diagnóstico e para a compreensão da fisiopatologia desta doença. No entanto, embora o derrame pleural predominante linfocítico seja indicativo de tuberculose em nosso meio, uma rotina de abordagem diagnóstica deve ser instituída a fim de orientar o tratamento precoce e evitar seqüelas.

Tuberculous pleural effusion is a common manifestation of the primary form of the disease or consequence of the reactivation of a latent infection due to the M. tuberculosis. Advances in the laboratory methods have contributed to better diagnose and understand the pathophysiology of the effusion secondary to tuberculosis. However, although a predominant lymphocytic pleural effusion is suspicious of tuberculosis, a diagnostic routine shall be instituted to orient treatment and prevent undesirable sequels.

Perfil funcional de pacientes portadores de seqüela de tuberculose de um hospital universitário / Functional profile of patients with tuberculosis sequelae in a university hospital

OBJETIVO: Descrever os dados de função pulmonar de pacientes com seqüela de tuberculose pulmonar, pleural e pleuropulmonar. MÉTODOS: Em um ambulatório de tuberculose de um hospital universitário, de 218 pacientes atendidos, 56 tinham seqüela de tuberculose pulmonar, pleural e pleuropulmonar, e 162 tiveram outros tipos de tuberculose. No laboratório de função pulmonar, 43 foram elegíveis para o estudo, de fevereiro de 2000 a julho de 2004. Foram excluídos os pacientes com doenças prévias, como: asma; doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica; insuficiência cardíaca; doenças do colágeno; silicose; cirurgia torácica prévia; e espirometria inaceitável ou não realizada. Os campos pulmonares foram divididos em seis zonas e os radiogramas classificados em: grau I, com mínimo envolvimento em somente uma zona sem cavitação; grau II, com envolvimento de duas ou três zonas ou uma zona com cavitação; grau III, com envolvimento grave em mais de três zonas com ou sem cavitação. RESULTADOS: Cinqüenta pacientes foram incluídos no estudo e 44 deles tiveram tuberculose pulmonar (88 por cento). O distúrbio ventilatório combinado foi o mais prevalente, 17/50 (34 por cento). Os distúrbios acentuados foram mais significativos no grau III (p = 0,0002). A função pulmonar normal predominou nos graus I e II (p = 0,002). CONCLUSÃO: A descoberta e o tratamento precoce dos casos de tuberculose pulmonar contribuem para a diminuição dos casos da doença e de suas seqüelas, melhorando a qualidade de vida desses pacientes. Os autores sugerem uma análise logitudinal e seqüencial (protocolo), com maior número de pacientes com seqüelas de tuberculose nos serviços de referência no Brasil.

Abdominal wall abscess secondary to subcapsular tubercular liver abscess.

We report a 22-year-old woman who presented with an abdominal wall lump in the right upper quadrant 15 days after starting antitubercular treatment for right pleural effusion. CT scan revealed a right liver lobe subcapsular abscess communicating vith subcutaneous tissue. Aspiration of pus revealed acid-fast bacilli. She responded to 9 months of antitubercular treatment.

Cases of human immunodeficiency virus infection and tuberculosis--early experiences of different aspects.

An outpatients department based survey conducted in Calcutta amongst 1349 established cases of tuberculosis (TB) revealed 0.67% human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected cases. Those affected by HIV and TB did not show any deviation from epidemiological pattern of HIV infection in India. All contracted HIV infection by heterosexual route, mostly from Bombay (47.8%) followed by West Bengal (30.4%). In follow-up study of a cohort of 36 HIV seropositives over 3 years, 10(27.7%) developed TB. Of the 23 HIV infected cases with TB, lesions were mostly pulmonary (n = 18, 78.3%) followed by pleural effusion (n = 3;13%). Low incidence of Mycobacterium avium (intracelluarae) complex and tuberculous lymphadenopathy one case each and 52.2% positivity with 14.5 mm mean induration diameter in intradermal test with one TU PPD-RT23 are deviations from previous reports. Low incidence of cough (43.5%), marked weight loss (100%) and fever (100%) were the cardinal clinical features. TB infection on pattern suggestive of reactivation of dormant pulmonary lesions lower rate (11%) of treatment failure and infection caused by organisms other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis were other findings of the study. Importance of serosurveillance to unearth more TB cases amongst HIV infected cases for early treatment and isoniazid prophylaxis is stressed upon.

Relación entre los niveles de adenosina deaminasa y desarrollo de engrosamiento pleural residual en tuberculosis pleural

Introducción: el engrosamiento pleural residual (EPR) es frecuente en tuberculosis pleural (TBCP) y no es claro si puede pronosticarse con la toracentesis inicial. Objetivo: evaluar la relación entre los índices de inflación y la activación linfocitaria pleural especialmente la adenosina deaminasa (ADA) y el desarrollo de EPR en TBCP. Tipo de estudio: observacional analítico de cohorte prospectiva. Lugar de estudio: programa de tuberculosis en el hospital de referencia. Material y métodos: pacientes con diagnóstico de TBCP a quienes se les realizó toracentesis incluyendo determinación de ADA y fueron tratados y controlados sin recibir glucocorticoides. Se definió EPR con métodos radiológicos. Los datos se recolectaron en forma prospectiva. La relación entre predictores y EPR se evaluó con prueba no paranétrica con una p<0,01 de significativa. Resultados: durante 48 meses, 57 pacientes cumplieron los criterios de inclusión; el diagnóstico se realizó en 84 por ciento con biopsia pleural. Se desarrolló EPR en 33 pacientes (58 por ciento) y no hubo EPR en 24 (42 por ciento). Los valores de LDH, proteínas, porcentaje de linfocitos y concentración de glucosa fueron similares en ambos grupos. La concentración de ADA fue similar (grupo con EPR:97 más menos 48; grupo sin EPR: 106 más menos 45; p=0,48, Mann-Whitney) en los dos grupos y no se encontró un punto de corte con apropiada discriminación para pronosticar EPR. Conclusión: en este grupo de pacientes ningún hallazgo de la toracentesis inicial se relacionó con el desarrollo de EPR. Los resultados son similares a los informados por otros investigadores, pero es la primera vez que se describen para el nivel de ADA pleural

Compartimentalização da imunidade celular em pacientes com pleurite crônica tuberculosa / Compartmentalization of cellular immunity in patients with chronic tuberculous pleuritis

A tuberculose pleural (tbp) é uma das formas extra-pulmonares da tuberculose humana de melhor prognóstico. A presença de derrame pleural rico em células de origem imune que se forma na cavidade pleural pode estar relacionada com a cura espontânea observada em pacientes com tbp. A partir dessas observações, o presente estudo teve por objetivo investigar a imunidade celular de pacientes com pleurite crônica tuberculosa através da análise comparativa do perfil das células mononucleares do sangue e do derrame pleural por FACS e comparar a proliferação celular, resposta citotóxica e produção de citocinas induzidas pelo antígeno do M. tuberculosís e antígenos recombinantes de micobactérias. Avaliamos também o papel de citocinas sobre a resposta citotóxica das células mononucleares do derrame pleural contra células alvos K562. Doze pacientes incluídos neste estudo tiveram diagnóstico de pleurite tuberculosa confirmado pela presença de granulomas nas biópsias pleurais. Pacientes HIV e HTLV positivos ou com outras doenças associadas foram excluídos desta avaliação. O perfil das células mononucleares foi analisado por citometria de fluxo para identificar os subtipos de linfócitos presentes no sangue e no derrame pleural. A proliferação das células mononucleares foi obtida pela incorporação de [3H] timidina. Os níveis de IFN-y, TNF-a e IL-10 foram analisados nos sobrenadantes das células mononucleares estimuladas com antígeno do M. tuberculosís e antígenos recombinantes de micobactérias. O papel da IL-12, IFN-y, TNF-a, IL-10 e TGF-~ na resposta citotóxica induzida pelo antígeno do M. tuberculosís nas células mononucleares foi avaliado através de ensaios de liberação de [51Cr]. A análise do perfil de células por FACS demonstrou um enriquecimento de linfócitos CD4+ que co-expressam CD45RO+ entre as células do derrame comparado ao perfil das células mononucleares do sangue. Linfócitos B, CD8+ e células NK são menos frequentes no compartimento pleural. Mononucleares...

Utility of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis GC-rich repetitive sequence in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion by PCR.

A GC-rich repetitive sequence (GCRS) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was identified in our laboratory which displayed a high homology with GC-rich sequences of M. tuberculosis and M. bovis. A PCR assay based on the amplification of the proximal 150 bp of GCRS and its detection by non-radioactive hybridization was developed. The accuracy of the GCRS-based PCR assay was evaluated in a clinical setting for the detection of mycobacterial DNA in pleural fluids for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) using clinical criteria and pleural biopsy histology as gold standard. In a blind study, a total of 67 pleural fluid samples (38 tuberculous and 29 nontuberculous) were analysed by PCR and the results were compared with pleural biopsy, Ziehl-Neelsen staining and culture. Mycobacteria could not be detected by either smear or culture techniques in any of the pleural fluids samples. Out of 38 tuberculous pleural effusions, 24 were positive by PCR (63.2% sensitivity). When PCR results were compared with pleural biopsy histology, an increased sensitivity of 73.3% was obtained. Out of the 29 nontuberculous pleural effusions, 2 false positive results were obtained accounting for an overall specificity of 93.1%. The GCRS-based PCR assay thus has a definite role in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion in contrast to smear and/or culture techniques.

Diagnostic value of cholesterol in pleural effusions.

The separation of pleural effusions into transudates and exudates is the first task the physician must solve in evaluating a pleural effusion for management. Many criteria have been established, but without a definite efficacy of any of them. Cholesterol is an easy, effective, relatively cheap determination to differentiate transudates from exudates. In our prospective study of 40 patients, cholesterol best separated transudates from exudates. A pleural fluid cholesterol value of 60 mg/dl or above has sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and efficacy of 100%, 93%, 96%, 92%, and 95.5% respectively. Pleural fluid to serum cholesterol ratio of 0.3 or higher has sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and efficacy of 96%, 93%, 96%, 92%, and 95% respectively. P. CHOL and P/S CHOL ratio has a misclassification rate of 2.5% each. When both were combined all cases are clearly separated into transudates and exudates.

Valor diagnóstico de la adenosín deaminasa en pacientes con pleuritis tuberculosa en la ciudad de Medellín 1991-1993

Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y prospectivo en 145 pacientes: 88 con diagnóstico de tuberculosis pleural confirmado por medio de cultivo o biopsia y 57 con derrame pleural no tuberculoso. Fue practicado en varias instituciones de salud de la ciudad de medellín durante el período de 1991-1993, con el fin de valorar la utilidad de la adenosín deaminasa en el diagnóstico de tuberculosis pleural. Se obtuvo para dicha prueba una sensibilidad de 92.04 por ciento y una especificidad de 89.47 por ciento, mostrando que la adenosín deaminasa es una importante herramienta diagnóstica de bajo costo en nuestro medio

Derrame pleural tuberculoso: avaliacao clinica e laboratorial / Tuberculous pleural effusion: clinical and laboratory evaluation

Sao apresentados os resultados do estudo de 44 pacientes com diagnostico de derrame pleural tuberculoso. A idade media foi 35 anos. Houve predominio do sexo masculino e da raca branca. As queixas principais foram febre (41/44), dor toracica (41/44) e emagrecimento (34/44), com tempo medio de duracao de sintomas de seis semanas. Em 21 pacientes o derrame foi localizado do lado direito, em 23 no lado esquerdo e em um paciente em ambos os lados. Em 23 por cento dos pacientes foi observado acometimento do parenquima pulmonar ipsilateral. Destes, tres apresentavam cultura de escarro positiva. Foram realizadas 49 biopsias de pleura em 44 pacientes. A primeira biopsia foi diagnostica em 82,5 por cento dos pacientes. A cultura do fragmento de pleura foi positiva em 75,8 por cento e a cultura do liquido pleural em 22,5 por cento. O liquido pleural era um exsudato com uma relacao liquido pleural/sangue maior que 0,5 para proteinas e maior que 0,6 para DHL em todos os casos. O estudo citologico mostrou predominio de linfocitos e escassez de celulas mesoteliais. Os pacientes receberam esquema terapeutico adequado, apresentando boa evolucao. Houve apenas uma falha. Os pacientes apresentaram melhora significativa (p < 0,05) com relacao ao peso, hemoglobina e diminuicao de VHS. Dos 44 pacientes, 23 evoluriam...