Evaluation of inflammatory mediators of pleural effusion in tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis patients

<b>Background:</b> Tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) is one of the most common forms of extrapulmonary TB. Patients with TPE or malignant pleural effusions (MPE) frequently have similar clinical manifestations and pleural fluid profile. Biomarkers for diagnosis efficacy in tuberculosis (TB) are needed. <b>Objective:</b> In this study we sought to determine whether cytokine levels in the pleural fluid of patients can differentiate TB from non-TB patients. <b>Methods:</b> 30 patients with TPE, 30 patients with MPE, 14 patients with empyema and 14 patients with parapneumonia were recruited. The levels of CXCL8, IP-10 and IL-27 in pleural effusions were determined by ELISA. <b>Result:</b> Significantly greater levels of CXCL8 (1878±204.9 vs 426.6±106, P≤0.0001), IP-10 (2199± 3265 vs 775.8±108, P≤0.0001) and IL-27 (5662±449.0 vs 800.1±25.71, P≤0.0001) were seen in TPE patients compared to MPE subjects. CXCL8 levels in pleural effusions were also significantly higher in TPE subjects compared to patients with empyema (1878±205 vs 298±95, P≤0.0001) or with parapneumonia (1878±205 vs 345 ± 85.43, P≤0.0001). Similarly, the levels of IL-27 in pleural effusions from TPE patients were also greater than those in empyema (5662±449 vs 3270±432, P=0.0009) and parapneumonia (5662±449 vs 3142±572, P≤0.0001) subjects. <b>Conclusion:</b> The current study shows evaluation of cytokines in pleural effusions was able to differentiate between TB and non-TB patients.