Soluble leukocyte selectin in the analysis of pleural effusions

To determine if soluble leukocyte selectin (sL-selectin) levels in serum and pleural fluid (PF) are an inflammatory marker that differentiates pleural effusion transudates from exudates. sL-selectin PF and serum levels were measured in consecutive patients and compared to established criteria. A ter...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Chest Vol. 120; no. 2; p. 362
Main Authors:	Horvath, L L, Gallup, R A, Worley, B D, Merrill, G A, Morris, M J
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States 01-08-2001
Subjects:	Biomarkers - analysis Exudates and Transudates - chemistry Humans L-Selectin - analysis L-Selectin - blood Pleural Effusion - chemistry Pleurisy - diagnosis Sensitivity and Specificity
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Summary:	To determine if soluble leukocyte selectin (sL-selectin) levels in serum and pleural fluid (PF) are an inflammatory marker that differentiates pleural effusion transudates from exudates. sL-selectin PF and serum levels were measured in consecutive patients and compared to established criteria. A tertiary-care military medical center. One hundred twenty patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic thoracentesis. PF and serum samples were collected during thoracentesis and analyzed separately for sL-selectin levels. Results were compared with clinical diagnosis and established PF criteria including the criteria of Light et al, cholesterol ratio, total bilirubin ratio, and albumin gradient. sL-selectin levels in PF and serum were determined in 109 patients. By clinical diagnosis, mean +/- SD PF sL-selectin levels were 200.2 +/- 124.3 ng/mL in transudates and 496.8 +/- 379.2 ng/mL in exudates (p < 0.001). By the criteria of Light et al, mean PF sL-selectin levels were 195.7 +/- 105.2 ng/mL in transudates and 448.2 +/- 367.6 ng/mL in exudates (p < 0.001). Mean sL-selectin PF to serum ratios were 0.31 +/- 0.17 in transudates and 0.72 +/- 0.31 in exudates (p < 0.001) by clinical criteria, and 0.31 +/- 0.18 in transudates and 0.64 +/- 0.33 in exudates (p < 0.001) by the criteria of Light et al. No significant difference was noted with serum sL-selectin levels between groups. sL-selectin is an inflammatory marker that differentiates transudates from exudates in pleural effusions and is a sensitive indicator for PF analysis.
ISSN:	0012-3692
DOI:	10.1378/chest.120.2.362