[The usefulness of cholesterol determination in the etiology of pleural effusion]. / Utilidad de la determinación del colesterol en la etiología del derrame pleural.

95 pleural effusions of different etiology were studied. 25 were transudate, 22 neoplastic, 28 caused by tuberculosis, and 20 miscellaneous. The Light parameters (pleural protein/plasma) (Prot LP/P), Pleural LDH (LDH LP) and LDH pleural/plasma quotient (LDH LP/P) were determined and compared with the efficacy of pleural cholesterol (Chol LP) and pleural cholesterol/plasma quotient (Chol LP/P) to differentiate the transudate from pleural exudate. With Prot LP/P quotient the sensitivity was of 85% and the specificity 91.6%; with LDH LP the sensitivity was of 74.6% and the specificity 97.6%. With the LDH LP/P quotient the sensitivity was of 89% and the specificity 87.8%. The sensitivity of each parameter was similar to that obtained by Light but less specific. All the transudates had levels of chol LP lower than 55 mq/dl (100% specificity) with a sensitivity of 84%. The Chol LP/P quotient had a limit of 0.3, this being its sensitivity of 91.3% and 93.1% its specificity. The presence of both parameters were necessary to the classification and the sensitivity obtained being of 80.3% and the specificity 100%. We concluded that the determinations of Chol LP and the Chol LP/P quotient are of great advantage in differentiating the pleural transudate from pleural exudate and the predictive value is, at least, similar to that obtained by Light.

[Neoplasm of the ovary as a cause of hyperamylasemia]. / Neoplasia de ovario como causa de hiperamilasemia.

A case of hyperamylasemia produced outside the pancreas and of exceptional origin, is presented. The place of origin is an ovarian carcinoma whose first manifestation was acute abdominal pain. The blood level of amylase was slightly increased mainly in its salivary fraction detected by the chromogenic/inhibition technique. This level, followed the tumor evolution and decreased in parallel to the tumor's response treatment.

[Simultaneous meningitis caused by Candida and tuberculosis as manifestation of AIDS]. / Meningitis simultánea por candida y tuberculosis como debut de SIDA.

Opportunistic germs meningoencephalitis plays an important role within neurologic pathology in aids. Treponema pallidum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis among bacteries, Cryptococcus neoformans in fungus group, Toxoplasma gondii in protozoos group and Papovavirus JC in virus one are the most frequently implicated germs. Sometimes infections are mixed. We present a simultaneous meningitis case produced by Candida albicans and Mycobacterium tuberculosis that coursed with neutrophilic pleocytosis in CSF and normal glucose CSF levels, consisting the clinical debut of aids. Repeated CSF examinations are the diagnostic clue owing, as in our case, instauration of early treatment. Present case of simultaneous tuberculous and candidiasic meningitis is the first one described in a HIV positive patient.