[Adhesion therapy for malignant pleural effusion (intrapleural administration of OK-432 with minocycline)]

Eleven patients with massive effusion due to pleuritis carcinomatosa were treated by tube drainage, followed by instillation of OK-432 and minocycline for pleurodesis. Pleural immunological and chemical reactions of adhesion were strongly induced by the use of these adhesive agents. As a result, pleural effusion was diminished in all patients without recurrence, allowing the drainage tubes to be successfully removed. As severe adverse effects following this course of therapy, high fever was observed in all patients, and acute renal failure in one. Blood chemical data from the patients revealed an increase in the number of granulocytes with a high level of interleukin-6 one day after instillation. These findings suggested that the symptoms of general inflammation were induced by local pleural inflammation. The median survival period was 253.7 days for 5 patients who were sufficiently fit to be discharged from our hospital. This was better than the historical average for the patients with uncontrolled pleural effusion. In conclusion, it was possible to control malignant pleural effusion and achieve longer survival periods through the optimal management of tube drainage and instillation of adhesion-inducing agents.