A novel diagnostic method for distinguishing parapneumonic effusion and empyema from other diseases by using the pleural lactate dehydrogenase to adenosine deaminase ratio and carcinoembryonic antigen levels

This study demonstrated that the pleural lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)to adenosine deaminase (ADA) ratios differed significantly between patients with CHF/CRF, MPE, TBPE, empyema, and PPE. We discovered a simple method to differentiate pleural diseases based on the pleural LDH to ADA ratio and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). A pleural LDH to ADA ratio greater than 15.5 and a pleural CEA level of less than 5 ng/mL is indicative of PPE or empyema rather than TBPE, MPE, or transudative pleural effusion (CRF, CHF). This method has a sensitivity of 62.0%, a specificity of 91.0%, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.765 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0678–0.852, P 
Source: Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Tags: Research Article: Observational Study Source Type: research