Diagnostic value of interleukin 21 and carcinoembryonic antigen levels in malignant pleural effusions
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Hansvin Bunjhoo1, Zheng-Yun Wang, Hui-Long Chen
1Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of the Ministry of Health of China, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of interleukin 21 (IL-21) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in tuberculous pleural effusions (TPEs) and malignant pleural effusions (MPEs). Pleural effusion samples from 103 patients were classified on the basis of diagnosis as TPE (n=51) and MPE (n=52). The concentration of IL-21 was determined by ELISA. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), adenosine dehydrogenase (ADA) and CEA levels were also determined in all patients. A significant difference was observed in the levels of ADA and CEA (P<0.01), but not in the levels of LDH (P>0.05) between TPE and MPE. The concentration of IL-21 in MPE was significantly higher compared to TPE (P<0.01). With a threshold value of 4.32 pg/ml, IL-21 had a sensitivity of 76.9% (40/52) and a specificity of 80.4% (41/51). Combined detection of IL-21 and CEA had a sensitivity of 69.2% (36/52) and a specificity of 92.2% (47/51). These two markers can contribute to the differential diagnosis of MPEs.
