Pleural effusions can be caused by various diseases, making their diagnosis
challenging. Light’s criteria are often used to distinguish transudative and
exudative effusions. Exudative effusions have a more complex etiology, including
parapneumonic, tuberculous, and malignant effusion.
Objectives
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and sensitivity
of Interleukin 36 gamma (IL-36γ) as a diagnostic marker for differentiating between
malignant and infectious pleural effusions.
Methods
The study involved 100 patients with pleural effusion. Patients were categorized
into five groups based on their final diagnosis. An ELISA technique was used to
quantitatively measure the levels of pleural fluid IL-36γ.
Results
The results showed that pleural IL-36γ levels were higher in tuberculous pleural
effusion compared with malignant, transudative, and uncomplicated pleural
effusion. In contrast, pleural IL-36γ levels were higher in complicated pleural effusion
compared with tuberculous, malignant, transudative, and uncomplicated pleural
effusion.
Conclusion
Based on the study’s findings, it was concluded that pleural IL-36γ is a novel
biomarker that can be used to diagnose and differentiate malignant pleural effusion
from infectious pleural effusion.