BMC pulmonary medicine
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Jun 2019
Diagnostic role of interleukin -33 in the differentiation of pleural effusions especially tuberculous and malignant effusions.
Tuberculous pleurisy and malignancy are two of the most common causes of pleural effusion. IL-33 is expressed in the epithelial lining and endothelial cells and is released after cell damage; it is proposed to have an essential role in sensing damage in various infectious and inflammatory diseases. This work aimed to determine the diagnostic role of IL-33 in pleural effusions. ⋯ IL-33 level may serve as a novel biomarker to differentiate pleural effusions, especially tuberculous from malignant effusions.