BTS guidelines for investigation of unilateral pleural effusion in adults
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1 Department of Chemical Pathology, Mayday University Hospital, Thornton Heath, Surrey, UK; anne.tarn@mayday.nhs.uk
2 Department of Clinical Biochemistry, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, Kent, UK
Keywords: pleural effusions; BTS guidelines
We are pleased to see that formal guidelines for the investigation of the previously neglected and sometimes difficult area of pleural effusions have been published.1 There have been many publications concentrating on the distinction of exudative from transudative pleural effusions as a means of aiding the diagnostic process, but not necessarily focusing on the underlying clinical aetiology.
We were, however, disappointed to find that the Pleural Disease Guidelines Group did not appear to have taken specialist advice about the clinical biochemistry investigations. This means that some of the important methodological aspects have not been commented on. For example, it is important to appreciate that most of the assays currently used in NHS laboratories in the UK have not been optimised and validated for use in fluid other than serum/plasma and may give inaccurate results. A review of the biochemical aspects of pleural fluid analysis was recently published in the Annals of Clinical Biochemistry.2 Although pleural fluid testing accounts for a very small percentage of laboratory work, this area requires close collaboration between the clinician and the laboratory to ensure that the most appropriate tests for answering the clinical question are selected, rather than adopting a blanket approach.
The advice that there is no requirement to test bilateral effusions which, in the clinical setting, are strongly suggestive of a transudative process unless there are atypical features or a failure to respond to treatment is welcomed. We agree that the appearance of the fluid provides useful information and would suggest that this is included in the formal laboratory report.
We endorse the view that total protein is central to the investigation of an undiagnosed pleural effusion and that this is usually sufficient unless the pleural fluid protein lies in the range of 25–35 g/l. This recommendation is not made clear in the algorithm, which suggests that lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and pH should be requested together with protein. Because of the problems of concurrent sampling, we were pleased to see that the use of a pleural fluid to serum ratio is not recommended. With respect to LDH, the use of modified Light’s criteria as described by Heffner et al did not significantly improve the discrimination from that achieved using total protein alone.3
The recommendation that gives us most concern is that of measuring pleural fluid pH in all non-purulent pleural effusions. Although the pH of pleural fluid may vary depending on the cause of the effusion, there is no evidence that routine measurement adds value to the diagnostic process. The only situation for which clinical studies may support pH measurement is in aiding the decision about drainage of non-purulent parapneumonic effusions.4 Aside from its clinical utility, the value of pH measurement is further compromised by analytical considerations. The samples must be collected anaerobically and analysed immediately under anaerobic conditions. This effectively means using a blood gas analyser. The suitability of pleural fluid samples for analysis by this method is unproven and, furthermore, brings concerns about whether such samples may cause blockage and instrument failure, especially since many blood gas analysers are now situated outside the laboratory and samples are run by non-laboratory personnel. This increases the concerns about compliance with Health and Safety regulations, especially since samples are often of high risk and the diagnosis of tuberculosis is specifically being queried. Additionally, such measurement would be outside the licensed indications for the analyser.
There are a few points to make about those tests used in specific clinical circumstances. We are pleased to see that the use of cholesterol and triglyceride is restricted to the investigation of suspected chylothorax, where high concentrations are likely, especially since cut-offs used in studies recommending cholesterol to separate exudates and transudates lie below the usual measuring range of routine assays. We are also pleased that the use of pleural fluid glucose is restricted to situations where the effusion is thought to be rheumatoid in origin and amylase where pancreatitis is the clinical query. We agree that creatinine is useful where a urinothorax is queried, that adenosine deaminase may be useful in TB pleurisy, and that ANA is not considered useful. Caution is advised, however, in using complement measurements on the basis of one positive reference, especially since the cut-off value quoted is 10 times less than the usual serum value and lies below the functional sensitivity of most assays.
While we acknowledge that the desire to minimise the number of invasive procedures leads to development of an all-inclusive algorithm, provided there is good liaison between the laboratory and clinician, a stepwise approach may be more cost effective without compromising patient management. In addition, good liaison and discussion will lead to a better appreciation of any test limitations and an individualised investigation strategy.
References
Maskell NA, Butland RJA. BTS guidelines for the investigation of a unilateral pleural effusion in adults. Thorax 2003;58(Suppl II):ii8–17.[Free Full Text]
Tarn AC, Lapworth R. Biochemical analysis of pleural fluid; what should we measure? Ann Clin Biochem 2001;38:311–22.[CrossRef][Medline]
Heffner JE, Brown LK, Barbieri CA. Diagnostic value of tests that discriminate between exudative and transudative pleural effusions. Chest 1997;11:970–80.
Heffner JE, Brown LK, Barbieri C, et al. Pleural fluid chemical analysis in parapneumonic effusions: a meta-analysis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1995;151:1700–8.[Abstract]
Authors’ reply
N A Maskell1, R J A Butland2 and R J O Davies3
1 Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, UK
2 Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucestershire NHS Trust, UK
3 Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK
Correspondence to:
Dr N A Maskell
Southmead Hospital, Westbury on Trym, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK; nickmaskell@doctors.org.uk
Keywords: pleural effusions; BTS guidelines
We would like thank Drs Tarn and Lapworth for their letter, largely supporting the approach of the BTS guidelines in the investigation of undiagnosed unilateral effusions.1 In answer to their specific queries, we did seek advice from local biochemists when compiling the guidelines. We also appreciate that laboratory testing on pleural fluid has not been formally validated on many machines used in UK laboratories. However, these tests have been validated against clinical outcome which indirectly provides some reassurance about laboratory reproducibility in pleural fluid. If the laboratory results were completely inaccurate because of major problems in pleural fluid analysis, the tests would have no clinical predictive power.2
The primary purpose of the guideline is best patient care and not the reduction of laboratory costs. The algorithm is intended to represent a summary of a logical approach when investigating these patients which will hopefully result in a prompt diagnosis with a minimal number of pleural interventions. Repeated pleural aspirations are clearly disadvantageous to patients (especially those who end up with mesothelioma who require expensive radiotherapy to every aspiration site). Prompt diagnosis is in the patients’ interest in resolving uncertainty, and a sequential approach is likely to be expensive through repeated use of the healthcare services during the prolonged investigation. It is important that healthcare cost analysis should take a "societal" perspective and cannot be quantified from laboratory test costs alone.
With regard to pH, there are few settings in which it is substantially depressed and, of these, infection is much the most prevalent. Other causes can usually be quickly identified clinically—for example, clinical rheumatoid arthritis, history of oesophageal rupture, obvious advanced malignancy. Since clinical management is totally changed by a diagnosis of infection (antibiotics and tube drainage rather than pleural biopsies) and there are sometimes no triggers to clearly identify this possibility, before measuring the pH, we feel it should be included in the general test battery.
Finally, with regard to the measurement of pleural pH in blood gas analysers, this has been standard practice in the US for over 15 years. In our unit we have been doing this for 6 years and have not encountered any of the potential problems mentioned (as long as measurements are avoided in grossly purulent and frank pus samples where the pH is not required anyway).
References
Maskell NA, Butland RJA. BTS guidelines for the investigation of unilateral pleural effusion in adults. Thorax 2003;58(Suppl II):ii8–17.[Free Full Text]
Heffner JE, Brown LK, Barbieri C, et al. Pleural fluid chemical analysis in parapneumonic effusions: a meta-analysis. Am J Respir Crit Car Med 1995;151:1700–8.[Abstract](A C Tarn1 and R Lapworth2)
2 Department of Clinical Biochemistry, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, Kent, UK
Keywords: pleural effusions; BTS guidelines
We are pleased to see that formal guidelines for the investigation of the previously neglected and sometimes difficult area of pleural effusions have been published.1 There have been many publications concentrating on the distinction of exudative from transudative pleural effusions as a means of aiding the diagnostic process, but not necessarily focusing on the underlying clinical aetiology.
We were, however, disappointed to find that the Pleural Disease Guidelines Group did not appear to have taken specialist advice about the clinical biochemistry investigations. This means that some of the important methodological aspects have not been commented on. For example, it is important to appreciate that most of the assays currently used in NHS laboratories in the UK have not been optimised and validated for use in fluid other than serum/plasma and may give inaccurate results. A review of the biochemical aspects of pleural fluid analysis was recently published in the Annals of Clinical Biochemistry.2 Although pleural fluid testing accounts for a very small percentage of laboratory work, this area requires close collaboration between the clinician and the laboratory to ensure that the most appropriate tests for answering the clinical question are selected, rather than adopting a blanket approach.
The advice that there is no requirement to test bilateral effusions which, in the clinical setting, are strongly suggestive of a transudative process unless there are atypical features or a failure to respond to treatment is welcomed. We agree that the appearance of the fluid provides useful information and would suggest that this is included in the formal laboratory report.
We endorse the view that total protein is central to the investigation of an undiagnosed pleural effusion and that this is usually sufficient unless the pleural fluid protein lies in the range of 25–35 g/l. This recommendation is not made clear in the algorithm, which suggests that lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and pH should be requested together with protein. Because of the problems of concurrent sampling, we were pleased to see that the use of a pleural fluid to serum ratio is not recommended. With respect to LDH, the use of modified Light’s criteria as described by Heffner et al did not significantly improve the discrimination from that achieved using total protein alone.3
The recommendation that gives us most concern is that of measuring pleural fluid pH in all non-purulent pleural effusions. Although the pH of pleural fluid may vary depending on the cause of the effusion, there is no evidence that routine measurement adds value to the diagnostic process. The only situation for which clinical studies may support pH measurement is in aiding the decision about drainage of non-purulent parapneumonic effusions.4 Aside from its clinical utility, the value of pH measurement is further compromised by analytical considerations. The samples must be collected anaerobically and analysed immediately under anaerobic conditions. This effectively means using a blood gas analyser. The suitability of pleural fluid samples for analysis by this method is unproven and, furthermore, brings concerns about whether such samples may cause blockage and instrument failure, especially since many blood gas analysers are now situated outside the laboratory and samples are run by non-laboratory personnel. This increases the concerns about compliance with Health and Safety regulations, especially since samples are often of high risk and the diagnosis of tuberculosis is specifically being queried. Additionally, such measurement would be outside the licensed indications for the analyser.
There are a few points to make about those tests used in specific clinical circumstances. We are pleased to see that the use of cholesterol and triglyceride is restricted to the investigation of suspected chylothorax, where high concentrations are likely, especially since cut-offs used in studies recommending cholesterol to separate exudates and transudates lie below the usual measuring range of routine assays. We are also pleased that the use of pleural fluid glucose is restricted to situations where the effusion is thought to be rheumatoid in origin and amylase where pancreatitis is the clinical query. We agree that creatinine is useful where a urinothorax is queried, that adenosine deaminase may be useful in TB pleurisy, and that ANA is not considered useful. Caution is advised, however, in using complement measurements on the basis of one positive reference, especially since the cut-off value quoted is 10 times less than the usual serum value and lies below the functional sensitivity of most assays.
While we acknowledge that the desire to minimise the number of invasive procedures leads to development of an all-inclusive algorithm, provided there is good liaison between the laboratory and clinician, a stepwise approach may be more cost effective without compromising patient management. In addition, good liaison and discussion will lead to a better appreciation of any test limitations and an individualised investigation strategy.
References
Maskell NA, Butland RJA. BTS guidelines for the investigation of a unilateral pleural effusion in adults. Thorax 2003;58(Suppl II):ii8–17.[Free Full Text]
Tarn AC, Lapworth R. Biochemical analysis of pleural fluid; what should we measure? Ann Clin Biochem 2001;38:311–22.[CrossRef][Medline]
Heffner JE, Brown LK, Barbieri CA. Diagnostic value of tests that discriminate between exudative and transudative pleural effusions. Chest 1997;11:970–80.
Heffner JE, Brown LK, Barbieri C, et al. Pleural fluid chemical analysis in parapneumonic effusions: a meta-analysis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1995;151:1700–8.[Abstract]
Authors’ reply
N A Maskell1, R J A Butland2 and R J O Davies3
1 Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, UK
2 Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucestershire NHS Trust, UK
3 Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK
Correspondence to:
Dr N A Maskell
Southmead Hospital, Westbury on Trym, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK; nickmaskell@doctors.org.uk
Keywords: pleural effusions; BTS guidelines
We would like thank Drs Tarn and Lapworth for their letter, largely supporting the approach of the BTS guidelines in the investigation of undiagnosed unilateral effusions.1 In answer to their specific queries, we did seek advice from local biochemists when compiling the guidelines. We also appreciate that laboratory testing on pleural fluid has not been formally validated on many machines used in UK laboratories. However, these tests have been validated against clinical outcome which indirectly provides some reassurance about laboratory reproducibility in pleural fluid. If the laboratory results were completely inaccurate because of major problems in pleural fluid analysis, the tests would have no clinical predictive power.2
The primary purpose of the guideline is best patient care and not the reduction of laboratory costs. The algorithm is intended to represent a summary of a logical approach when investigating these patients which will hopefully result in a prompt diagnosis with a minimal number of pleural interventions. Repeated pleural aspirations are clearly disadvantageous to patients (especially those who end up with mesothelioma who require expensive radiotherapy to every aspiration site). Prompt diagnosis is in the patients’ interest in resolving uncertainty, and a sequential approach is likely to be expensive through repeated use of the healthcare services during the prolonged investigation. It is important that healthcare cost analysis should take a "societal" perspective and cannot be quantified from laboratory test costs alone.
With regard to pH, there are few settings in which it is substantially depressed and, of these, infection is much the most prevalent. Other causes can usually be quickly identified clinically—for example, clinical rheumatoid arthritis, history of oesophageal rupture, obvious advanced malignancy. Since clinical management is totally changed by a diagnosis of infection (antibiotics and tube drainage rather than pleural biopsies) and there are sometimes no triggers to clearly identify this possibility, before measuring the pH, we feel it should be included in the general test battery.
Finally, with regard to the measurement of pleural pH in blood gas analysers, this has been standard practice in the US for over 15 years. In our unit we have been doing this for 6 years and have not encountered any of the potential problems mentioned (as long as measurements are avoided in grossly purulent and frank pus samples where the pH is not required anyway).
References
Maskell NA, Butland RJA. BTS guidelines for the investigation of unilateral pleural effusion in adults. Thorax 2003;58(Suppl II):ii8–17.[Free Full Text]
Heffner JE, Brown LK, Barbieri C, et al. Pleural fluid chemical analysis in parapneumonic effusions: a meta-analysis. Am J Respir Crit Car Med 1995;151:1700–8.[Abstract](A C Tarn1 and R Lapworth2)