Serum pleural effusion albumin gradient in differentiating exudative from transudative pleural effusion
Abstract
Introduction: In pleural effusion, the first step is to determine whether the effusion is exudative or transudative. This study is carried out to know the diagnostic value of Serum Pleural Effusion Albumin Gradient (SPEAG) criteria in comparison to Light”s criteria to differentiate exudative from transudative pleural effusion.
Methods: Patients having pleural effusion admitted in Bir Hospital and Shree Birendra Army Hospital from April 2012 to April 2013 were enrolled in the study. Study population was grouped as exudatives and transudatives etiologically taking clinical diagnosis as the gold standard and was compared with Light’s and SPEAG criteria. Sensitivity and specifity of each parameter of Light’s criteria were also compared with that of serum pleural effusion albumin gradient.
Methods: Patients having pleural effusion admitted in Bir Hospital and Shree Birendra Army Hospital from April 2012 to April 2013 were enrolled in the study. Study population was grouped as exudatives and transudatives etiologically taking clinical diagnosis as the gold standard and was compared with Light’s and SPEAG criteria. Sensitivity and specifity of each parameter of Light’s criteria were also compared with that of serum pleural effusion albumin gradient.