Pleural Fluid Biomarkers of Pediatric Parapneumonic Effusion
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Parapneumonic pleural effusion (PPE) secondary to community-acquired pneumonia is the most common cause of pediatric pleural effusion. This study aimed to evaluate the pleural fluid characteristics of pediatric patients with PPE and to compare biomarkers bet...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Diagnostics |
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| author | Jose D. Santotoribio David Nuñez-Jurado Jose L. Rubio-Prieto Juan M. Guerrero Juan Corral-Pérez Juan J. Fernández-Alba |
| author_facet | Jose D. Santotoribio David Nuñez-Jurado Jose L. Rubio-Prieto Juan M. Guerrero Juan Corral-Pérez Juan J. Fernández-Alba |
| author_sort | Jose D. Santotoribio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Parapneumonic pleural effusion (PPE) secondary to community-acquired pneumonia is the most common cause of pediatric pleural effusion. This study aimed to evaluate the pleural fluid characteristics of pediatric patients with PPE and to compare biomarkers between infants (1–12 months) and children (1–14 years). <b>Methods:</b> Fifty-four pediatric patients (14 infants and 40 children) with PPE were included. Pleural fluid samples were analyzed for white blood cell (WBC) count, glucose, total protein, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), adenosine deaminase (ADA), and pH levels. Differences between age groups and correlations between age and pleural fluid biomarkers were assessed. <b>Results:</b> Most pediatric PPE cases exhibited biochemical characteristics consistent with pleural exudate: WBC > 1000 cells/µL, total protein > 3 g/dL, LDH > 200 U/L. Infants showed a predominance of mononuclear WBC, while children exhibited a predominance of polymorphonuclear WBC. Glucose levels were higher, and total protein levels were lower in infants compared to children. Age was positively correlated with polymorphonuclear WBC percentage (rho = 0.509, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and protein levels (rho = 0.622, <i>p</i> < 0.001), whereas glucose levels were negatively correlated with age (rho = −0.274, <i>p</i> = 0.043). <b>Conclusions:</b> Age-specific differences in pleural fluid biomarkers were observed in pediatric patients with PPE, suggesting a more robust and acute inflammatory response in children compared to infants. These findings underscore the importance of considering age-related variations in the inflammatory response when diagnosing and managing PPE in pediatric populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3e745ad2dbe244f49020fb8aaa4dc4c7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj-art-3e745ad2dbe244f49020fb8aaa4dc4c72025-08-20T02:30:46ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-04-01159108610.3390/diagnostics15091086Pleural Fluid Biomarkers of Pediatric Parapneumonic EffusionJose D. Santotoribio0David Nuñez-Jurado1Jose L. Rubio-Prieto2Juan M. Guerrero3Juan Corral-Pérez4Juan J. Fernández-Alba5Department of Laboratory Medicine, Puerto Real University Hospital, 11510 Cadiz, SpainDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, 41013 Seville, SpainDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, 41013 Seville, SpainDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, 41013 Seville, SpainInstituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), 11009 Cadiz, SpainInstituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), 11009 Cadiz, Spain<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Parapneumonic pleural effusion (PPE) secondary to community-acquired pneumonia is the most common cause of pediatric pleural effusion. This study aimed to evaluate the pleural fluid characteristics of pediatric patients with PPE and to compare biomarkers between infants (1–12 months) and children (1–14 years). <b>Methods:</b> Fifty-four pediatric patients (14 infants and 40 children) with PPE were included. Pleural fluid samples were analyzed for white blood cell (WBC) count, glucose, total protein, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), adenosine deaminase (ADA), and pH levels. Differences between age groups and correlations between age and pleural fluid biomarkers were assessed. <b>Results:</b> Most pediatric PPE cases exhibited biochemical characteristics consistent with pleural exudate: WBC > 1000 cells/µL, total protein > 3 g/dL, LDH > 200 U/L. Infants showed a predominance of mononuclear WBC, while children exhibited a predominance of polymorphonuclear WBC. Glucose levels were higher, and total protein levels were lower in infants compared to children. Age was positively correlated with polymorphonuclear WBC percentage (rho = 0.509, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and protein levels (rho = 0.622, <i>p</i> < 0.001), whereas glucose levels were negatively correlated with age (rho = −0.274, <i>p</i> = 0.043). <b>Conclusions:</b> Age-specific differences in pleural fluid biomarkers were observed in pediatric patients with PPE, suggesting a more robust and acute inflammatory response in children compared to infants. These findings underscore the importance of considering age-related variations in the inflammatory response when diagnosing and managing PPE in pediatric populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/9/1086pleural fluidchildhoodbiochemical parameter |
| spellingShingle | Jose D. Santotoribio David Nuñez-Jurado Jose L. Rubio-Prieto Juan M. Guerrero Juan Corral-Pérez Juan J. Fernández-Alba Pleural Fluid Biomarkers of Pediatric Parapneumonic Effusion Diagnostics pleural fluid childhood biochemical parameter |
| title | Pleural Fluid Biomarkers of Pediatric Parapneumonic Effusion |
| title_full | Pleural Fluid Biomarkers of Pediatric Parapneumonic Effusion |
| title_fullStr | Pleural Fluid Biomarkers of Pediatric Parapneumonic Effusion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pleural Fluid Biomarkers of Pediatric Parapneumonic Effusion |
| title_short | Pleural Fluid Biomarkers of Pediatric Parapneumonic Effusion |
| title_sort | pleural fluid biomarkers of pediatric parapneumonic effusion |
| topic | pleural fluid childhood biochemical parameter |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/9/1086 |
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