Description:
Objective
To tap the glycoprotein – orosomucoid in pleural fluid and serum samples in patients with pleural effusions and evaluate its efficacy as a tumour marker.
Method
One hundred and forty patients with pleural effusions with different etiologies were studied and screened for pleural fluid and serum orosomucoid.
Results
The orosomucoid content in the effusions is significantly high in carcinomatous effusions (p < 0.05) than that in tuberculous effusions. When compared between malignant effusions and empyema, pleural fluid orosomucoid was found not significant ( p <0.10) in tuberculous effusions when compared with malignant effusions.
Conclusion
The glycoprotein orosomucoid was estimated in the pleural fluid and serum samples in patients with pleural effusions due to tuberculosis, malignancy, empyema and effusions due to haemothorax, pneumothorax and congestive heart failure and its efficacy as a tumour marker was evaluated. It was found that pleural fluid orosomucoid did not serve as an excellent tumour marker. (The Ind. Pract.2005; 58(4); 205–208)