dc.creator | Papaioannou, A. I. | en |
dc.creator | Kostikas, K. | en |
dc.creator | Tsopa, P. | en |
dc.creator | Kiropoulos, T. | en |
dc.creator | Tsilioni, I. | en |
dc.creator | Oikonomidi, S. | en |
dc.creator | Gerogianni, I. | en |
dc.creator | Gourgoulianis, K. I. | en |
dc.date.accessioned | 2015-11-23T10:43:39Z | |
dc.date.available | 2015-11-23T10:43:39Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2010 | |
dc.identifier | 10.1159/000270913 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 0025-7931 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11615/31813 | |
dc.description.abstract | Background: Many patients with pneumonia develop pleural effusions. Pleural fluid vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are known to be elevated in complicated parapneumonic effusion and seem to play a major role in the fibrotic process in the pleura. Objectives: To test whether VEGF levels in pleural effusions of infectious origin correlate with the residual pleural thickening. Methods: VEGF levels were measured in the pleural fluid of 45 patients with pleural effusion of infectious origin. Patients were reassessed 3 months after hospital discharge and residual pleural thickening (RPT) was recorded using a simple chest radiograph. Results: Pleural fluid VEGF was higher in empyemas compared to simple parapneumonic and complicated parapneumonic effusions. RPT was higher in patients with empyemas compared to simple parapneumonic effusions. Patients with RPT > 2 mm had higher pleural fluid LDH and pleural fluid to serum LDH ratio, lower glucose and pH and higher VEGF levels. However, patients with RPT >= 10 mm differed only in pleural fluid VEGF levels. Pleural fluid VEGF levels correlated to RPT and to pleural fluid pH. VEGF presented moderate performance for the prediction of RPT 3 months after hospital discharge. Its performance was comparable to that of pleural fluid glucose and pH for the development of a radiologically significant RPT > 2 mm, whereas it was the only statistically significant predictor of a clinically significant RPT >= 10 mm. Conclusion: VEGF levels are elevated in complicated parapneumonic effusions and empyemas compared to simple parapneumonic effusions and are a significant predictor for the development of clinically significant RPT. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel | en |
dc.source | Respiration | en |
dc.source.uri | <Go to ISI>://WOS:000288206400006 | |
dc.subject | Vascular endothelial growth factor | en |
dc.subject | Residual pleural thickening | en |
dc.subject | Parapneumonic effusions | en |
dc.subject | PLEURODESIS | en |
dc.subject | ANGIOGENESIS | en |
dc.subject | Respiratory System | en |
dc.title | Residual Pleural Thickening Is Related to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels in Parapneumonic Pleural Effusions | en |
dc.type | journalArticle | en |