The need for a new classification system in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The current classification fails to fully meet the needs of physicians and COPD patients in clinical practice. The future classification should aim to prevent the development of disease in high-risk groups, enable early diagnosis before irreversible damage occurs, identify subgroups, and provide pathophysiological insight to inspire drug development. It would be reasonable to thoroughly examine and assess the contributing factors such as an increase in the annual decline of (FEV1), bronchial hyperresponsiveness, variable obstruction, FEV1 % predicted, blood eosinophil count, preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm), and the subgroups of group B as potential additions to the new classification.

Can the ADO Index Be Used as a Predictor of Mortality from COVID-19 in Patients with COPD?

Background: Several studies have shown that the risk of mortality due to COVID-19 is high in patients with COPD. However, evidence on factors predicting mortality is limited. Research Question: Are there any useful markers to predict mortality in COVID-19 patients with COPD?. Study Design and Methods: A total of 689 patients were included in this study from the COPET study, a national multicenter observational study investigating COPD phenotypes consisting of patients who were followed up with a spirometry-confirmed COPD diagnosis. Patients were also retrospectively examined in terms of COVID-19 and their outcomes. Results: Among the study patients, 105 were diagnosed with PCR-positive COVID-19, and 19 of them died. Body mass index (p= 0.01) and ADO (age, dyspnoea, airflow obstruction) index (p= 0.01) were higher, whereas predicted FEV1 (p< 0.001) and eosinophil count (p= 0.003) were lower in patients who died of COVID-19. Each 0.755 unit increase in the ADO index increased the risk of death by 2.12 times, and each 0.007 unit increase in the eosinophil count decreased the risk of death by 1.007 times. The optimum cut-off ADO score of 3.5 was diagnostic with 94% sensitivity and 40% specificity in predicting mortality. Interpretation: Our study suggested that the ADO index recorded in the stable period in patients with COPD makes a modest contribution to the prediction of mortality due to COVID-19. Further studies are needed to validate the use of the ADO index in estimating mortality in both COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections in patients with COPD.

The Impact of Effective Vaccination on Clinical and Radiological Involvement in COVID-19 Patients.

Objective: We aimed to analyze clinical, radiological, and laboratory differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients admitted to hospital due to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Methods: Patients hospitalized in the COVID-19 clinic between February 2022 and August 2022 were included in the study. Demographic, clinical features, and treatment results. Furthermore, the COVID-19 vaccination status of the cases was recorded. The cases were divided into two groups as those with and without COVID vaccination and compared. Results: A total of 215 patients were included in our study, and the patients were divided into 2 groups according to their vaccination status: those who were unvaccinated against COVID-19 (n=100) and those who vaccinated COVID-19 (n=115). The presence of comorbid chronic diseases and cancer was lower in the unvaccinated group. The duration of hospitalization was longer in the unvaccinated group than in the vaccinated group (9.6 and 7.1 days, respectively) (p<0.001). While there was no difference between the two groups in terms of the radiological involvement pattern, the number of involved segments was significantly higher in the unvaccinated group (p<0.05). The number of patients who received high-dose glucocorticoid therapy in the unvaccinated group was higher (28 cases vs. 11 cases; p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of transfer of patients to the intensive care unit (p>0.05). 11.3% (13/115) of the patients in the vaccinated group died, whereas 14% (14/100) died in the unvaccinated group. Conclusions: The vaccinated cases who were infected with COVID-19 had a shorter duration of hospitalization and lower severity of radiological involvement. The requirement for pulse steroids was also less compared with unvaccinated individuals. Despite having chronic diseases and cancer, which is considered to have a significant effect on mortality in COVID-19 patients. In addition, although the vaccinated group was older, they had mortality rates similar to those of unvaccinated subjects.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease phenotypes in Turkey: the COPET study-a national, multicenter cross-sectional observational study.

BACKGROUND: While mortality rates decrease in many chronic diseases, it continues to increase in COPD. This situation has led to the need to develop new approaches such as phenotypes in the management of COPD. We aimed to investigate the distribution, characteristics and treatment preference of COPD phenotypes in Turkey. METHODS: The study was designed as a national, multicenter, observational and cross-sectional. A total of 1141 stable COPD patients were included in the analysis. RESULTS: The phenotype distribution was as follows: 55.7% nonexacerbators (NON-AE), 25.6% frequent exacerbators without chronic bronchitis (AE NON-CB), 13.9% frequent exacerbators with chronic bronchitis (AE-CB), and 4.8% with asthma and COPD overlap (ACO). The FEV1 values were significantly higher in the ACO and NON-AE than in the AE-CB and AE NON-CB (p < 0.001). The symptom scores, ADO (age, dyspnoea and FEV1 ) index and the rates of exacerbations were significantly higher in the AE-CB and AE NON-CB phenotypes than in the ACO and NON-AE phenotypes (p < 0.001). Treatment preference in patients with COPD was statistically different among the phenotypes (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis was performed in terms of emphysema, chronic bronchitis and ACO phenotypes of 1107 patients who had thoracic computed tomography. A total of 202 patients had more than one phenotypic trait, and 149 patients showed no features of a specific phenotype. DISCUSSION: Most of the phenotype models have tried to classify the patient into a certain phenotype so far. However, we observed that some of the patients with COPD had two or more phenotypes together. Therefore, rather than determining which phenotype the patients are classified in, searching for the phenotypic traits of each patient may enable more effective and individualized treatment.

How to Utilize CAT and mMRC Scores to Assess Symptom Status of Patients with COPD in Clinical Practice?

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the compatibility of modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) and COPD assessment test (CAT) scores of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in terms of evaluation of their symptom status. Methods: The study was planned as a single-center, cross-sectional study. Statistically four separate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of CAT scoring were generated for mMRC scores of 1 to 4. Results: Two hundred twenty eight patients with stable COPD, mean age 64.2±8.2 and 88.6% male were included. A strong positive correlation was detected between CAT and mMRC (r=0.60, p<0.001). However, it was observed that 32 patients had mMRC<2 but CAT≥10, while 21 patients had CAT<10 but mMRC≥2. Thus, in 53 patients CAT and mMRC scores were not identical in terms of assessed symptom status. According to the ROC analysis, the mMRC scores of 1 to 4 were most compatible with the CAT scores of 10, 10, 15, and 20, respectively. Conclusions: Expanding current data represents that CAT score of 10 could be more compatible with mMRC score of 1. Moreover we think although a high mMRC or CAT score may be sufficient to assign patients to high symptom groups, it is needed to evaluate mMRC and CAT together to assign a patient to a low symptom group. In this way misclassification of the patients with high symptoms due to insufficient symptom evaluation as if they have low symptoms can be prevented.

Is it Possible to Use the Timed Performance Tests in Lung Transplantation Candidates to Determine the Exercise Capacity?

OBJECTIVES: Lung transplantation (LTx) candidates have severe exercise intolerance. This makes it difficult for them to complete the field tests used to determine the exercise capacity of patients. Therefore, there is a need for alternative tests that require less effort. We aimed to investigate the use of short-timed performance tests instead of 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in the determination of exercise capacity in LTx. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 63 LTx candidates were included in the study. Ten-meter walking speed test (10MWT), 5-times sit-to-stand test (5XSST), 6MWT were performed at one-hour intervals within the same day, and by the same physiotherapist in all patients. Maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory pressure (MEP), peripheral muscle strengths, pulmonary function tests, and body mass index (BMI) were recorded for each patient. RESULTS: The subjects' baseline mean 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) was 336m, 5XSST time was 11.59 sec, and 10MWT time was 8.45sec. There was a negative and moderate correlation between 6MWD and 10MWT (p<0.001, r=0.449). Similarly there was a negative but weak correlation between 6MWD and 5XSST (p=0.001, r=0.397). In addition, there was a strong relationship between 5XSST and 10MWT (p<0.001, r=0.767). CONCLUSION: This study showed that 6MWT and short-timed performance tests were correlated in terms of exercise capacity assessment. In contrast, there was a strong relationship between 6MWT and 10MWT according to 6MWT and 5XSST. The timed performance tests may be alternative tests to determine exercise capacity in LTx candidates.

A comparative study of the effectiveness of hospital-based versus home-based pulmonary rehabilitation in candidates for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction.

BACKGROUND: The Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction (BLVR) is recommended in patients with severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) who are still symptomatic and have hyperinflation despite having received optimal medical therapy and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR). However, the small number of PR centers is insufficient to compensate for the need for existing hospital-based PR programs. OBJECTIVE: This article aimed to compare between hospital-based and home-based PR programs in terms of effectiveness on BLVR candidates. METHODS: This study is a prospective, controlled, nonrandomized clinical trial. Stable COPD patients who were referred to our PR clinic prior to BLVR were recruited consecutively. Patients were evaluated in two groups, hospital-based PR (Group 1) or home-based PR (Group 2). Both groups were admitted to the recommended PR for eight weeks. Pulmonary function tests, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) were assessed for each patient before and after PR. RESULTS: A total of 67 patients were enrolled in the study. The max. age was 79 years and min. age was 49 years, with 65(±7.45) as a mean ±SD. Improvements in the mMRC and CAT scores after PR in both groups were significant and a similar level. Whereas, 6MWD was only significantly increased in Group 1. CONCLUSIONS: This study, demonstrated that both home-based and hospital-based PR provided significant and similar improvements in the mMRC and CAT scores but 6MWD was only significantly increased in the hospital-based PR. Since 6MWD after PR plays a major role in BLVR eligibility, our findings suggest that hospital-based PR may be the most appropriate method for BLVR candidates.

Comparison of Compliance Rates and Treatment Efficiency in Home-Based with Hospital-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation in COPD.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to compare the home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) with the hospital-based PR with respect to exercise compliance rates and efficiency of therapy in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with stable severe and very severe COPD who were admitted consequently to our PR clinic were prospectively included in the study. Patients who completed the home-based PR for at least 4 days/week for 2 months as recommended were classified as the study group. Patients who completed the hospital-based PR in our clinic before the present study were classified as the control group. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were included in the home-based PR, but 10 patients were incompatible with the exercise training, and four patients were out of follow-up. Twenty-one patients successfully completed the home-based PR (study group), and compliance rate was 60%. Thirty-seven patients previously underwent the hospital-based PR, and 25 patients completed the exercise program (control group); thus, their compliance rate was 67%. There was no difference between the two groups with respect to treatment compliance rates. The significant improvement in six-minute walking distance, modified Medical Research Council dyspnea, and COPD Assessment Test scores were observed after PR in both groups, and there was no difference with respect to the levels of improvement. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that approximately two-thirds of patients with COPD successfully completed the home-based PR, and that this program also provided similar benefits with respect to the quality of life and exercise capacity compared with the hospital-based PR.

Prospective cross-sectional multicenter study on domiciliary noninvasive ventilation in stable hypercapnic COPD patients.

Background: Domiciliary noninvasive ventilation (NIV) use in stable hypercarbic COPD is becoming increasingly widespread. However, treatment compliance criteria and factors related to compliance remain to be defined. Methods: This research was designed as a prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter real-life study. Chronic hypercapnic COPD patients who were using domiciliary NIV for at least 1 year and being followed up in 19 centers across Turkey were included in the study. The patients who used NIV regularly, night or daytime and ≥5 hours/d, were classified as "high-compliance group," and patients who used NIV irregularly and <5 hours/d as "low-compliance group." Results: Two hundred and sixty-six patients with a mean age of 64.5±10.3 years were enrolled, of whom 75.2% were males. They were using domiciliary NIV for 2.8±2 years. Spontaneous time mode (p<0.001) and night use (p<0.001) were more frequent in the high-compliance group (n=163). Also, mean inspiratory positive airway pressure values of the high-compliance group were significantly higher than the low-compliance group (n=103; p<0.001). Cardiac failure (p=0.049) and obesity (p=0.01) were significantly more frequent in the high-compliance group. There were no difference between 2 groups regarding hospitalization, emergency department and intensive care unit admissions within the last year, as well as modified Medical Research Council dyspnea and COPD Assessment Test scores. With regard to NIV-related side effects, only conjunctivitis was observed more frequently in the high-compliance group (p=0.002). Conclusion: Determination of the patients who have better compliance to domiciliary NIV in COPD may increase the success and effectiveness of treatment. This highly comprehensive study on this topic possesses importance as it suggests that patient and ventilator characteristics may be related to treatment compliance.

Clinical effects of cognitive impairment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effects of cognitive impairment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A total of 91 patients with stable moderate to very severe COPD were included in this study. Cognitive functions of the patients were evaluated using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) tool and clock-drawing test. The Brody's Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Questionnaire; COPD assessment test (CAT); body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity (BODE); and Charlson comorbidity index were assessed. The patients were divided into two groups as those who were diagnosed with cognitive impairment (group 1, n = 16) and those with normal cognitive functions (group 2, n = 75). Group 1 had a lower arterial partial pressure of oxygen , shorter 6-min walking distance, and higher arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) than group 2 ( p = 0.01, p = 0.024, p = 0.018, respectively). In group 1, the IADL score was lower, and CAT and BODE scores were higher than group 2 ( p = 0.002, p = 0.037, p = 0.012, respectively). When we considered all the patients, there was an independent correlation between the IADL score and MMSE score ( p = 0.03). This study revealed that COPD patients with cognitive impairment may have more hypoxemia and limited activities of daily living.

Effects of aspiration pneumonia on the intensive care requirements and in-hospital mortality of hospitalised patients with acute cerebrovascular disease.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of the development of aspiration pneumonia (AP) on the intensive care unit (ICU) requirements and in-hospital mortality of patients hospitalised in the neurology ward due to an acute cerebrovascular accident (CVA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five hundred and three patients hospitalised in the neurology ward following an acute CVA were retrospectively analysed. The patients were divided into two groups: those with AP (group 1) and those without AP (group 2). Demographic characteristics and physical and radiological findings, including the localisation, lateralisation and aetiology of the infarction, in addition to ICU requirements and mortality, were evaluated. RESULTS: Aspiration pneumonia was detected in 80 (15.9%) patients during the in-hospital stay. Transfer to the ICU for any reason was required in 37.5% of the patients in group 1 and 4.7% of those in group 2 (p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality occurred in 7.5% and 1.4% of the patients in group 1 and group 2, respectively (p = 0.006). The incidence of AP was highest in patients with an infarction of the medial cerebral artery (MCA) (p < 0.001). The AP was associated with older age (p < 0.001), hypertension (p = 0.007), echocardiography findings (p = 0.032) and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the requirement rate for transfer to the ICU and the mortality rate appear to be significantly higher in patients with a diagnosis of AP. Precautions should be taken, starting from the first day of hospitalisation, to decrease the incidence of AP in patients with acute CVA, focusing especially on older patients and those with a severe mRS score.

Factors affecting dropout in the smoking cessation outpatient clinic.

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of discontinuation in the smoking cessation outpatient clinic (SCC) and to examine the features of noncompliance. We retrospectively included 1324 smokers into the study. Patients were divided into two groups, as those who discontinued (dropped out) follow-up (group 1) and those who stayed in follow-up (group 2). Of the total 1324 smokers, 540 (40.8%) patients were in group 1. The mean age, smoking pack-years, and Fagerstrom scores of group 1 were lower than group 2 (p = 0.001, p = 0.008, and p = 0.007, respectively). In addition, the choice of treatment was also different between groups (p < 0.001). Motivational/behavioral therapy and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) were more common in group 1 compared with group 2. There was no difference among groups in gender, having household smokers, history of antidepressant treatment, previous quit attempts, and educational status (p > 0.05). Almost 40% of our patients did not come to their follow-up SCC visit. Younger age, lower Fagerstrom score, low amount of daily cigarette consumption, and being treated only with behavioral therapy or NRT were detected as the characteristics of the dropout group. Awareness of the characteristics of smokers who drop out of SCC programs may provide for the implementation of personalized treatment at the first appointment.

Diagnosing latent tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients measuring blood IP-10 production capacity: an analysis of chronic renal failure patients.

OBJECTIVE: Patients undergoing haemodialysis for chronic renal failure-hemodialysis (CRF-HD) are at risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The effectiveness of using blood IP-10 production capacity to diagnose LTBI in CRF-HD patients was analysed. METHODS: The study enrolled 50 CRF-HD patients. Interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) was done using QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube (QFG-IT) system. Blood IP-10 production capacity was measured using the QFG-IT system tubes. Tuberculin skin testing (TST) was performed on the same day and the test results were compared. RESULTS: TST turned out to be positive in 36.4% of the patients and QFG-IT in 54% of them. After stimulation with specific tuberculosis antigens, blood IP-10 levels increased noticeably. The antigen-stimulated blood IP-10 level was significantly higher in patients who were either TST or QFG-IT positive than in patients whose tests were negative (p=0.0001). Using 4.02 pg/mL as the threshold for stimulated blood log-transformed IP-10 level, good agreement was observed between IP-10 and QFG-IT results (κ=1). CONCLUSION: Blood IP-10 level, which can be measured simply, provides results equivalent to IGRAs for the diagnosis of LTBI in CRF-HD patients.

Mean platelet volume as an inflammation marker in active pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: The mean platelet volume (MPV) reflects the size of platelets. It has been shown to be inversely correlated with level of the inflammation in some chronic inflammatory diseases. This prospective study aims to show the usability of MPV as an inflammation marker in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) by comparison with healthy controls. In addition, its relationships with other inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) as well as with the radiological extent of disease were examined. METHODS: This study included 82 patients with active PTB and 95 healthy subjects (control group). Whole blood counts, CRP level, and ESR were compared between the two groups. In the PTB group, the relationships between the radiological extent of disease and the MPV and other inflammation markers were investigated. RESULTS: The MPV was 7.74 ± 1.33/µL in the PTB group and 8.20 ± 1.13/µL in the control group (p = 0.005). The blood platelet count, CRP level, and ESR were significantly higher in the active PTB group than in the control group (p < 0.0001). In the PTB group, CRP levels (r = 0.26, p = 0.003) and ESR (r = 0.39, p = 0.003), but not MPV (p = 0.80), were significantly correlated with the radiologic extent of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: The MPV was lower in patients with PTB than in healthy controls, however, the difference was limited. The MPV does not reflect the severity of the disease. The use of MPV as an inflammation marker and a negative acute-phase reactant in PTB does not seem to be reliable.

Does Repeating CT-Guided Transthoracic Fine Needle Aspiration Increase Diagnostic Yield and Complication Rate? A Single Institution Experience.

BACKGROUND: Transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy is a well-established and safe technique for obtaining pulmonary tissue. However, there is very little data about repeating procedure. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate whether repeating CT-guided transthoracic fine needle aspiration (TFNA) increases diagnostic yield and complication rate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients underwent TFNA and the final diagnoses achieved were included in the study. Consequently, 316 TFNA procedures performed in 240 patients were investigated retrospectively. A diagnosis was not reached in the first TFNA in 64 patients, then they underwent repeated TFNA. The factors that affected the diagnostic yield and complication rate were recorded. RESULTS: The final diagnoses of 199 (82.9%) patients were malignant and 41 patients were benign. One hundred seventy six patients underwent the TFNA procedure only once. Sixty-four patients underwent a second procedure, while 12 underwent a third one. The diagnosis rate in the first procedures (diagnosis obtained in 142 out of 240 patients) was 59%. With the repeated procedures, 30 other patients were diagnosed. The diagnosis rate increased to 72% (172 out of 240 patients) (P<0.001). Twenty-nine (9.2%) pneumothoraces in 26 patients were detected in 316 TFNA procedures. In the repeated TFNA group (64 patients) there were seven pneumothoraces (11%) in the first TFNA procedure and six pneumothoraces (9%) in the repeated TFNA procedures (P=0.41). In three patients, pneumothorax was detected in the first and repeated procedures. Pneumothorax was significantly associated with the maximum diameter of the lesion (P=0.003), distance to pleura (P=0.001), contact to the pleura (P=0.0001) and smoking history (pack/year) (P=0.04). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that repeating the TFNA procedure in pulmonary lesions improves the diagnostic yield without an increase in the rate of pneumothorax.

Prominent features of platelet count, plateletcrit, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width in pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the relation of platelet count (PLT) and plateletcrit (PCT), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) with other acute phase reactants and radiological extent in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). METHODS: One hundred patients with PTB (Group 1), 50 patients with community-acquired pneumonia (Group 2) and 28 healthy control individuals (Group 3) were included in this analytic study. RESULTS: WBC (White Blood Cell), ESR (Eritrocyte Sedimentation Rate), CRP (C-Reactive Protein), PLT and PCT values were both in Group 1 and Group 2 than in Group 3. PDW values were significantly higher in Group 1 than Group 3. WBC, ESR and CRP values were lower, while PLT and PCT values were higher in the Group 1 compared to Group 2 (p < 0.001). PLT was positively correlated with CRP and ESR values in the tuberculosis group (p < 0.001), while it was not correlated with CRP and ESR in the pneumonia group (p > 0.05). ESR, CRP, PLT and PCT values were found higher in radiological advanced stage (Stage 3) patients with PTB, while hemoglobin (Hb) was found lower (p < 0.05). Higher WBC, ESR, CRP and PCT values as well as radiological advanced stage were more common in PTB patients with thrombocytosis compared to the patients with normal platelet count, whereas Hb was found lower in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that reactive thrombocytosis and higher PCT and PDW develop frequently in PTB and there is a relation between thrombocytosis and acute phase reactants, that is the inflammatory response. In addition, tuberculosis with radiological advanced stage is seen more frequently in the patients with thrombocytosis and higher PCT, drawing attention to the possible role of platelets in the cell-based immune process of tuberculosis.

[Inverse relation between atopic status and tuberculin response in adult asthmatics]. / Eriskin astimlilarda atopik durum ile tüberkülin yaniti arasindaki ters iliski.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to examine the relation between tuberculosis infection and both atopic and nonatopic asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty six patients with asthma were included. These patients were divided into two groups according to atopic status. Seventy one patients with positive prick tests to at least one aeroallergen together with history of allergy were named as atopic asthma group, and the other 15 patients with negative prick tests, who do not have any history of allergy were named as nonatopic asthma group. Two different control groups similar in terms of age and gender were taken for each group. Tuberculin skin test was done. RESULTS: As a different from most of the previous studies, we included nonatopic asthmatics besides atopic asthma group. PPD value in atopic asthma group was significantly lower (p< 0.001) than the control group. In nonatopic asthmatics, PPD value was also lower than the control group, but it wasn't statistically significant. When we take all patients and controls, negative correlation was seen between mean PPD value and total IgE levels. CONCLUSION: PPD reactivity has been detected as remarkably suppressed in atopic asthma group while mildly suppressed in nonatopic asthmatics. The results may be affected by the fact that mycobacterium infection or BCG vaccination may have suppressive effect on atopic asthma development which comes out in early ages, but they don't have the same effect on nonatopic asthma development which comes out in elder ages.

Predictive role of adenosine deaminase for differential diagnosis of tuberculosis and malignant pleural effusion in Turkey.

Tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) is a common problem for differential diagnosis from malignant effusion (MPE) in epidemic areas of tuberculosis (TB). Prediction based on adenosine deaminase (ADA) is dependent on age as well as the tuberculosis incidence. The aim of the study was to evaluate cutoff values for ADA with sensitivity and specificity results for the differential diagnosis of MPE and TPE in a population with intermediate incidence of TB. We retrospectively analysed 196 patients with a definitive diagnosis of TPE (n = 114) and MPE (n = 82). The optimal cutoff value of ADA was determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. There was a statistically significant difference according to the levels of pleural fluid ADA between TPE and MPE groups (p < 0.0001). The cutoff value for diagnosing TPE was > 55 U/L, with a sensitivity = 86.8%, specificity = 86.6%, positive predictive value (PPV) = 90%, negative predictive value (NPV) = 82.6% and accuracy = 82.6%. We then combined ADA > 55 U/L and age < 50 and were able to discriminate the TPE group with increased specifity (95.7 %) and PPV (98.8%) results. The model could correctly classify 21 MPE out of 23 and 82 TPE out of 94 patients. A pleural fluid ADA value < 31 U/L suggests that TPE is highly unlikely with a sensitivity = 43.9 %, specificity = 100%, PPV = 100%, NPV = 71.3% and accuracy = 76.6%. It can be concluded that ADA is a very useful parameter for the differential diagnosis of TPE and MPE, specifically in youngers with a higher incidence of tuberculosis.

Systolic pulmonary artery pressure and serum uric acid levels in patients with hyperthyroidism.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) and serum uric acid (SUA) levels in patients with hyperthyroidism and after euthyroid state was reached. METHODS: Twenty five (10 male, 15 female, mean age 49.8 +/- 11.6 years) consecutive patients with hyperthyroidism (18 due to toxic nodular goiter, seven to Graves' disease) and 25 (eight male, 17 female, mean age 48.7 +/- 8.7 years) healthy controls were included in the study. Thyroid hormones, SUA, glucose, urea, creatinine, and transthoracic echocardiography were performed in all patients. All tests were repeated after treatment of hyperthyroidism. RESULTS: Mean SPAP and SUA levels in patients with hyperthyroidism were significantly higher than in controls (30.4 +/- 8.5 vs. 22 +/- 3.7 mmHg, p <0.0001, and 5.1 +/- 1.1 vs. 4.3 +/- 0.5 mg/dL, p = 0.004, respectively). Elevated SPAP and SUA levels in patients with hyperthyroidism decreased significantly after treatment to levels comparable with controls (24.4 +/- 5.4 mmHg, p = 0.001 and 4.6 +/- 0.9 mg/dL, p = 0.002, respectively). Correlation between SPAP and SUA levels, however, was not significant in hyperthyroid population and after euthyroid stage was reached (r = 0.34, p = 0.097, and r = 0.256, p = 0.216, respectively), possibly due to relatively low number of patients (overall correlation of SPAPs and SUAs was r = 0.4, p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperthyroidism should be included in differential diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, further investigations are needed to determine the exact mechanism between hyperthyroidism and pulmonary hypertension.