Abstract
Pleural diseases are a commonly encountered problem by general physicians and chest specialists alike. Despite this, there has been a lack of research over the last few decades in this important field. This review focuses on new developments in the management of pleural effusions. We have restricted our attention, in the main, to randomised controlled trials. The review is evidence-based with practical suggestions from the authors to practicing clinicians. Specific areas focused on are pleural infection and malignant pleural disease. In pleural infection, the importance of pleural pH is emphasised and we have incorporated the latest evidence on the use of fibrinolytics from the recent multi-centre randomised controlled MIST trial. In malignant pleural effusion, the best way of obtaining closed pleural biopsy is discussed. With regard to pleurodesis, recent data on the importance of knowing your talc particle size is highlighted, as well as the role of fibrinolytics, thoracoscopy and when to use Pleurx catheters. Finally, the latest developments on newer diagnostic markers such as mesothelin in mesothelioma and newer anti-pleural agents such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonists have been reviewed.
Keywords: Pleural effusion, malignant pleural disease, pleural infection, new developments
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews
Title: New Developments in the Management of Pleural Effusions
Volume: 2 Issue: 3
Author(s): Andrew RL Medford and Nick A. Maskell
Affiliation:
Keywords: Pleural effusion, malignant pleural disease, pleural infection, new developments
Abstract: Pleural diseases are a commonly encountered problem by general physicians and chest specialists alike. Despite this, there has been a lack of research over the last few decades in this important field. This review focuses on new developments in the management of pleural effusions. We have restricted our attention, in the main, to randomised controlled trials. The review is evidence-based with practical suggestions from the authors to practicing clinicians. Specific areas focused on are pleural infection and malignant pleural disease. In pleural infection, the importance of pleural pH is emphasised and we have incorporated the latest evidence on the use of fibrinolytics from the recent multi-centre randomised controlled MIST trial. In malignant pleural effusion, the best way of obtaining closed pleural biopsy is discussed. With regard to pleurodesis, recent data on the importance of knowing your talc particle size is highlighted, as well as the role of fibrinolytics, thoracoscopy and when to use Pleurx catheters. Finally, the latest developments on newer diagnostic markers such as mesothelin in mesothelioma and newer anti-pleural agents such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonists have been reviewed.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
RL Medford Andrew and Maskell A. Nick, New Developments in the Management of Pleural Effusions, Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews 2006; 2 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157339806778018926
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157339806778018926 |
Print ISSN 1573-398X |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6387 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Exposure to PM2.5 components is associated with respiratory diseases
Through continuous research on the relationship between risk factors and health, it has been found that air pollution, especially atmospheric particulate matter pollution, has become one of the main sources of global disease burden. From 1990 to 2022, the concentration of atmospheric particulate matter pollution has increased by more than ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Malignant Pleural Effusions: Review of Treatment and Our Experience
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Biological Agents Involved in Malignant Mesothelioma: Relevance as Biomarkers or Therapeutic Targets
Current Cancer Drug Targets The Acute Phase Protein α1-Acid Glycoprotein: A Model for Altered Glycosylation During Diseases
Current Protein & Peptide Science Pemetrexed: Potential Role in the Adjuvant Chemotherapy of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Current Drug Targets Multi-modal Anti-cancer Activities Provided by a Non-replicating Sendai Virus Envelope
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Inhibitors of HDACs - Effective Drugs Against Cancer?
Current Cancer Drug Targets Connexins as Precocious Markers and Molecular Targets for Chemical and Pharmacological Agents in Carcinogenesis
Current Medicinal Chemistry Cancer Stem Cells Switch on Tumor Neovascularization
Current Molecular Medicine Determinants of Anti-Cancer Effect of Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Inhibitors: Bioenergetic Profile and Metabolic Flexibility of Cancer Cells
Current Pharmaceutical Design Drug Combinations Enhancing the Antineoplastic Effects of Erlotinib in High-Grade Glioma
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Distinctive Phenotype Identification for Breast Cancer Genotypes Among Hereditary Breast Cancer Mutated Genes
Current Bioinformatics Expression and Functions of Vasoactive Substances Regulated by Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 in Chronic Hypoxemia
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Clinical Trials with Oncolytic Measles Virus: Current Status and Future Prospects
Current Cancer Drug Targets CD147 Promotes Melanoma Progression Through Hypoxia-Induced MMP2 Activation
Current Molecular Medicine Phosphoinositide-3-kinases as the Novel Therapeutic Targets for the Inflammatory Diseases: Current and Future Perspectives
Current Drug Targets Design, Synthesis and In-Vitro Cytotoxicity of Novel Platinum (II) Complexes with Phthalate as the Leaving Group
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Anti-cancer Immunotoxins, Challenges, and Approaches
Current Pharmaceutical Design Molecular and Cellular Activities of Vitamin E Analogues
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Folic Acid Conjugated Chitosan Nanoparticles for Tumor Targeting of Therapeutic and Imaging Agents
Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Recent Developments of Thalidomide Derivatives Possessing Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry