Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (대한결핵및호흡기학회)
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TNF-α in the Pleural Fluid for the Differential Diagnosis of Tuberculous and Malignant Effusion

결핵성 및 악성흉수의 감별에 있어 흉수 내 TNF-α의 유용성

  • Kim, Hye Jin (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Shin, Kyeong Cheol (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Lee, Jae Woong (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Kim, Kyu Jin (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Hong, Yeong Hoon (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Chung, Jin Hong (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Lee, Kwan Ho (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University)
  • 김혜진 (영남대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 신경철 (영남대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 이재웅 (영남대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 김규진 (영남대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 홍영훈 (영남대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 정진홍 (영남대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 이관호 (영남대학교 의과대학 내과학교실)
  • Received : 2005.08.31
  • Accepted : 2005.11.07
  • Published : 2005.12.30
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Abstract

Background : Determining the cause of an exudative pleural effusion is sometimes quite difficult, especially between malignant and tuberculous effusions. Twenty percent of effusions remain undiagnosed even after a complete diagnostic evaluation, including pleural biopsy. The activity of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), which is the one of proinflammatory cytokines, is increased in both infectious and malignant effusions. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic efficiency of TNF-${\alpha}$ activity in distinguishing tuberculous from malignant effusions. Methods : 46 patients (13 with malignant pleural effusion, 33 with tuberculous pleural effusion) with exudative pleurisy were included. TNF-${\alpha}$ concentrations were measured in the pleural fluid and serum samples using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, TNF-${\alpha}$ ratio (pleural fluid TNF-${\alpha}$ : serum TNF-${\alpha}$) was calculated. Results : TNF-${\alpha}$ concentration and TNF-${\alpha}$ ratio in the pleural fluid were significantly higher in the tuberculous effusions than in the malignant effusions (p<0.05). However, the serum levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ in the malignant and tuberculous pleural effusions were similar (p>0.05). The cut off points for the pleural fluid TNF-${\alpha}$ level and TNF-${\alpha}$ ratio were found to be 136.4 pg/mL and 6.4, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve were 81%, 80% and 0.82 for the pleural fluid TNF-${\alpha}$ level (p<0.005) and 76%, 70% and 0.72 for the TNF-${\alpha}$ ratio (p<0.05). Conclusion : We conclude that pleural fluid TNF-${\alpha}$ level and TNF-${\alpha}$ ratio can distinguish a malignant pleural effusion from a tuberculous effusion, and can be additional markers in a differential diagnosis of tuberculous and malignant pleural effusion. The level of TNF-${\alpha}$ in the pleural fluid could be a more efficient marker than the TNF-${\alpha}$ ratio.

배 경 : 삼출성흉수의 원인질환 중 흉수 내 림프구가 우세한 경우는 결핵성흉수와 암성흉수가 가장 흔하다. 그러나 두 질환의 감별은 흉막생검을 비롯한 침습적 방법이 필요하며 약 20% 정도는 진단을 명확하게 내릴수 없다. TNF-${\alpha}$는 종양세포나 다른 염증성세포들과 작용하여 숙주의 면역체계에 중요한 역할을 하며, 감염성 혹은 악성흉수인 경우 흉수 내 TNF-${\alpha}$는 증가한다. 저자들은 결핵성흉수와 악성흉수를 구분하는데 세포성 면역에 관계하는 TNF-${\alpha}$의 유용성을 확인하고자 하였다. 방 법 : 삼출성 흉수로 입원한 환자 46 예(암성흉수 13 예, 결핵성흉수 33 예)를 대상으로 하였다. 혈청과 흉수의 TNF-${\alpha}$를 ELISA법으로 측정하였으며, 혈청에 대한 흉수의 TNF-${\alpha}$ 농도의 비(TNF-${\alpha}$ 비)를 구하였다. 결 과 : 결핵성흉수 및 악성흉수의 혈청 내 TNF-${\alpha}$는 차이가 없었으나, 흉수 내 TNF-${\alpha}$는 결핵성흉수가 유의하게 높았으며(p<0.01), TNF-${\alpha}$ 비 역시 결핵성흉수가 높았다(p<0.05). 그러나 두 질환의 혈청 및 흉수 내 TNF-${\alpha}$의 상관관계는 없었다. ROC 곡선을 이용하여 이들 질환의 감별할 수 있는 기준치를 구하였는데 흉수 내 TNF-${\alpha}$의 절사값을 136.4 pg/mL로 하였을 때 민감도 81%, 특이도 80% (p<0.005), TNF-${\alpha}$ 비는 절사값을 6.4로 하였을 때 민감도 76%, 특이도 70% (p<0.05) 이었다. 곡선밑면적은 흉수 내 TNF-${\alpha}$가 TNF-${\alpha}$ 비보다 유의하게 넓었다. 결 론 : 흉수 내 TNF-${\alpha}$측정과 TNF-${\alpha}$ 비는 결핵성흉수와 암성흉수를 감별진단 하는데 이용될 수 있으며, 흉수 내 TNF-${\alpha}$가 TNF-${\alpha}$ 비보다 더 유용한 지표로 판단된다.

Keywords

References

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