Gamma interferon as a diagnostic marker for tuberculous pleural effusion

ABSTRACT

This study was performed on 74 patients [45 males and 29 females] suffering from pleural effusion due to different etiologies to evaluate the use of gamma interferon [IFN-gamma] as a diagnostic marker for tuberculous pleural effusion. The patients were classified into five groups according to one or more of the following criteria Clinical examination, tuberculin intradermal test, histopathological and microbiological examination of both sputum and pleural fluid by ZN stains and culture on Bactec-460 [Becton Dickinson]. The five groups were tuberculous effusion group [30 patients], malignant effusion group [11 patients], empyemic effusion group [10 patients] and nonspecific effusion group [14 patients]. For each pleural effusion, glucose, total protein and albumin were estimated calorimetrically and IFN-gamma was evaluated by radio-immunoassay technique