Hyaluronic Acid concentration in pleural fluid: diagnostic aid for tuberculous pleurisy

A high concentration of hyaluronic acid in pleural fluid is suggestive of malignant mesothelioma. However, a relatively high concentration of hyaluronic acid was also seen in the pleural fluid of patients with benign inflammatory diseases. To show the utility of measuring hyaluronic acid levels in pleural fluid to diagnose tuberculous pleurisy, we compared the clinical features and levels of hyaluronic acid in the pleural fluid of patients with and without tuberculous pleurisy.

We enrolled 27 patients with infective pleurisy admitted at Teikyo University Hospital from January 2010 to December 2013. Ten patients were diagnosed with tuberculous pleurisy, and 17 with non-tuberculous pleurisy. We reviewed the clinical features and data of all 27 patients and compared the two groups. We analyzed and compared the concentration of hyaluronic acid and adenosine deaminase in their pleural fluid.

Patients with tuberculous pleurisy tended to have significantly higher concentrations of hyaluronic acid and adenosine deaminase in their pleural fluid (tuberculous pleurisy patients vs. other infective pleurisy patients: hyaluronic acid (× 10(3) ng/mL); 42.9 ± 23.3 vs. 16.8 ± 17.9, P = 0.003, adenosine deaminase (IU/L); 89.7 ± 33.3 vs. 74.0 ± 90.9, P = 0.032). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed no significant difference in the area under the curve of hyaluronic acid and adenosine deaminase volumes in pleural fluid, suggesting their equivalent value as major diagnostic tools for tuberculosis pleurisy.

Hyaluronic acid concentration in pleural fluid can be a valuable tool for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.