The Clinical Impact And Reliability Of Carbonic Anhydrase â…« In The Differentiation Of Malignant And Tuberculous Pleural Effusions

Objective: The objective of present study was to assess the practical utility ofpleural fluid CAXII quantification. Materials and Methods: CAXII was quantified inpleural fluid samples by ELISA. Fluid was collected prospectively from fifty patientspresenting with lymphocytic pleural effusions for investigation. Results: Pleural fluidCAXII concentrations were significantly higher in lung cancer patients (n=30) than intuberculous controls (n=20). The sensitivity and specificity of this biomarker test were60ï¼…and75ï¼…, respectively. CAXII measurement was not inferior to cytologicalexamination in the diagnosis and exclusion of pleural effusions from lung cancerpatitents.(sensitivity60ï¼…vs.57ï¼…; specificity75ï¼…vs.100ï¼…; positive predictivevalue77ï¼…; negative predictive value54ï¼…). In patients with negative cytology, itoffered a sensitivity of54ï¼…. Conclusions: Pleural fluid CAXII was elevated inpleural effusions from lung cancer patients. Measurement of CAXII may be used inthe future as a valuable adjunct to cytology in the diagnostic assessment of patientswith pleural effusions related to lung cancer, especially when cytological examinationwas inconclusive.