LDH/ADA ratio in pleural fluid for the diagnosis of infectious pleurisy.

Pleural effusion (PE) is a common medical concern, often requiring thoracentesis for a definitive diagnosis. An elevated pleural fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA) may indicate tuberculosis, but this is not always the case. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of biomarkers determined in pleural fluid and propose a new diagnostic strategy for PE in patients with high levels of ADA in pleural fluid. This retrospective analysis studied patients with PE who received thoracentesis for the first time with an ADA level of > 33 U/L in the pleural fluid analysis at two tertiary hospitals from March 2019 to March 2023. Demographic and clinical data, as well as pleural fluid biomarkers and their ratios, were studied and compared between different PE groups, and a decision tree was developed. During the study period, 259 patients were enrolled, with four different types of PE: parapneumonic (PPE) 155, tuberculosis (TPE) 41, malignant (MPE) 50, and miscellaneous 13. Biomarkers and their ratios performed well in the differential diagnosis of PE, with the LDH/ADA ratio distinguishing between PPE and non-PPE with sensitivity and specificity of 98.06% and 98.08%, respectively. The combination of LDH/ADA ratio, ADA, and mononuclear cell percentage was identified as important factors for creating a decision tree with an overall accuracy of 89.96%. The pleural fluid LDH/ADA ratio was a useful diagnostic for distinguishing PPE from non-PPE, and a decision tree with an accuracy of 89.96% was created to differentiate the four forms of PE in clinical situations.

Evaluation of health outcomes after the implementation of rotational thromboelastometry in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Viscoelastic tests (rotational thromboelastometry, ROTEM®), together with the implementation of a specific algorithm for coagulation management in cardiac surgery, enable perioperative coagulopathy to be better controlled. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study including 675 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The incidence of allogeneic blood transfusions and clinical postoperative complications were analyzed before and after ROTEM® implementation. RESULTS: Following viscoelastic testing and the implementation of a specific algorithm for coagulation management, the incidence of any allogeneic blood transfusion decreased (41.4% vs 31.9%, p = .026) during the perioperative period. In the group monitored with ROTEM®, decreased incidence of transfusion was observed for packed red blood cells (31.3% vs 19.8%, p = .002), fresh frozen plasma (9.8% vs 3.8%, p = .008), prothrombin complex concentrate administration (0.9% vs 0.3%, p = .599) and activated recombinant factor VII (0.3% vs 0.0%, p = .603). Increased incidence was observed for platelet transfusion (4.8% vs 6.8%, p = .530) and fibrinogen concentrate (0.9% vs 3.5%, p = .066), tranexamic acid (0.0% vs 0.6%, p = .370) and protamine administration (0.6% vs 0.9%, p = .908). Similar results were observed in the postoperative period, but with a decreased incidence of platelet transfusion (4.8% vs 3.8%, p = .813). In addition, statistically significant reductions were detected in the incidence of postoperative bleeding (9.5% vs 5.3%, p = .037), surgical reexploration (6.0% vs 2.9%, p = .035), and length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay (6.0 days vs 5.3 days, p = .026). CONCLUSIONS: The monitoring of hemostasis by ROTEM® in cardiac surgery, was associated with decreased incidence of allogeneic blood transfusion, clinical hematologic postoperative complications and lengths of ICU stay.

Diagnóstico de las enfermedades pulmonares intersticiales difusas: estudio del BAL - Su utilidad para el diagnóstico / Diagnosis of Diffuse Interstitial Lung Diseases: BAL Study - Its Utility for the Diagnosis

Resumen Introducción: Las enfermedades pulmonares intersticiales difusas son un grupo heterogéneo de enfermedades respiratorias con difícil diagnóstico. El estudio del lavado broncoalvolar mediante citometría de flujo puede definir patrones celulares típicos en diferentes en fermedades, proporcionando algo de ayuda en el diagnóstico diferencial. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido analizar retrospectivamente la utilidad clínica de las subpoblaciones celulares y linfocitarias detectadas en el lavado broncoalveolar por citometría de flujo, con la finalidad de definir patrones celulares típicos que permitan el diagnóstico diferencial de enfermedades granulomatosas pulmonares. Materiales y métodos: En el estudio se han incluido 44 pacientes retrospectivamente. Los sujetos fueron diagnosticados de sar coidosis o neumonitis por hipersensibilidad durante un periodo de 3 años. Se realizó el análisis celular de lavado broncoalveolar por citometría de flujo, pruebas histológicas y de imagen (TACAR), como parte del diagnóstico. Los porcentajes de células T, células B, células NK, CD4, CD8 y CD4 / CD8 se analizaron por citometría de flujo, a través de los marcadores CD3 +, CD19 + CD4 +, CD8 +, CD3 + CD4-CD8- y CD3 + CD16-CD56-. Resultados: Concluimos que los parámetros de mayor utilidad fueron la linfocitosis y sobre todo, el cociente CD4/CD8. Este cociente se presentó alto en patologías como la sarcoidosis y se invirtió en la neumonitis por hipersensibilidad, con respecto a los valores hallados en sangre periférica. Conclusiones: El estudio de BAL es útil para discriminar entre enfermedades pulmonares intersticiales granulomatosas y otras EPID.

Diagnosis of Diffuse Interstitial Lung Diseases: BAL Study - Its Utility for the Diagnosis

Abstract Introduction: Diffuse interstitial lung diseases are a hard-to-diagnose heterogeneous group of respiratory diseases. The study of bronchoalveolar lavage through flow cytometry may define typical cell patterns in different diseases and so help confirm the differential diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical utility of cell and lymphocyte subpopulations detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage by flow cytometry in order to define typical cell patterns that allow for making a differential diagnosis of granulomatous lung diseases. Materials and methods: The retrospective study included 44 patients. The subjects were diagnosed with sarcoidosis or hypersen sitivity pneumonitis during a period of 3 years. We performed the cellular analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage through flow cytometry and histological and imaging testing (HRCAT, High Resolution Computed Axial Tomography) as part of the diagnosis. The percentages of T cells, B cells, NK cells, CD4, CD8 and CD4/CD8 were analyzed by flow cytometry for the following markers: CD3 +, CD19 + CD4 +, CD8 +, CD3 + CD4-CD8- and CD3 + CD16-CD56-. Results: We conclude that the most important parameters were lymphocytosis and especially the CD4/CD8 quotient. This quotient was high for diseases such as sarcoidosis and low for hypersensitivity pneumonitis, in comparison with the values found in the peripheral blood. Conclusions: The BAL (Bronchoalveolar Lavage) study is useful for differentiating between granulomatous interstitial lung diseases and other DILDs (diffuse interstitial lung diseases).