Level of interlukin 18 and its significance in tuberculous pleural effusion and malignant pleural effusion

[Objective] To evaluate the level of interlukin 18 and its significance in tuberculous pleural effusion and malignant pleural effusion. [Methods] We selected 48 patients of pleural effusion in the wards of Department of Respiratory Internal Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University during January 2004 and May 2005. Forty-eight specimens of pleural effusions were collected from 48 patients with pleural effusion. Of them 24 pleural effusion were diagnosed as tuberculous, and 24 as malignant. The levels of IL-18 of pleural effusion in tubercular pleurisy and malignant pleural effusion sufferersly were detected by ELISA. [Results] The level of IL-18 in tuberculous effusion (263.37±67.64) ng/L was significant higher than that in malignant pleural effusion (92.15±26.66) ng/L (P 0.05). The cut-of values for the IL-18 was defined. It was 150 ng/L. The sensitivity and specificity of IL-18 for tuberculous pleural effusion were 83.0% and 91.7%. [Conclusion] IL-18 could be used as valuable parameters for the differentiation of tuberculous effusion from malignant.