[Diagnostic efficiency of pseudocholinesterase level in discrimination of transudates-exudates]

In this study, 80 cases with pleural effusion hospitalized at the departments of Chest Diseases and Internal Medicine in the Medical School of Selcuk University, and 30 healthy people as control group were studied. Regarding to the diagnosis, pleural fluids were classified into two groups as follows; transudates and exudates. Difference between the mean pleural pseudocholinesterase levels of transudates and exudates was statistically significant (p< 0.001). Similar significance was also obtained in the mean pleural fluid/serum pseudocholinesterase ratios of the groups (p< 0.001). In determination of exudative fluids both sensitivity and specificity of the pleural fluid pseudocholinesterase level was 100%. Sensitivity and specificity of the pleural fluid/serum pseudocholinesterase ratio were 90 and 87%, respectively. We have concluded that pleural pseudocholinesterase level and pleural fluid/serum pseudocholinesterase ratio can be used as a parameter with high diagnostic efficiency in discrimination of pleural effusions as exudates and transudates.