thromboplastin and Pleural-Effusion

(I) To assess the feasibility of thromboplastin-plasma (TP) method for cell block, (II) to concentrate the minimal cellular material from effusions and needle-rinses by block preparation and improve visual details, (III) to compare conventional cytological smears with cell blocks for final assessment, and (IV) to assess utility of immunocytochemistry (ICC) for diagnostic accuracy. Seventy cell blocks were prepared by TP technique using surplus fluid from 38 serous effusions, and for 32 ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) material, rinses of syringes and needles were collected in normal saline after conventional cytological smears. Then, cell blocks were compared with conventional smears for adequacy, morphologic preservation, and ICC. Absolute concordance seen in 66 cases (94%) between the smears and cell blocks. Advantages with the blocks were cellular concentration in a limited field and better cellular preservation with architectural pattern. Quality of ICC was comparable to that of standard controls. Diagnostic discrepancy was seen in two cases where cell blocks were positive but smears were negative. Two cell blocks were nonrepresentative. Cell block serves as a useful adjunct to traditional cytological smears. TP method is simple, cost effective, and reproducible. It is easy when compared with agar-embedding technique. Ancillary techniques like ICC can be performed successfully.

Topics: Ascitic Fluid; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Cell Separation; Diagnostic Errors; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Neoplasms; Pericardial Effusion; Pleural Effusion; Specimen Handling; Thromboplastin; Tissue Embedding

Mononuclear cells (MNC) generate cell-bound procoagulant activity (PCA) which shortens recalcification time after incubation with an antigen to which the donor has been sensitized. PCA has been demonstrated in various lung diseases, including exudative pleural effusions. To determine the value of measuring cell-bound PCA in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusions we examined pleural effusion MNC of patients with tuberculosis (n = 19), congestive heart failure (n = 7), and carcinoma (n = 7). MNC were isolated, incubated in 0 or 10 micrograms/ml purified protein derivative (PPD) for 15 min and for 20 h, and recalcification time determined. Incubation with thromboplastin was used as control. The recalcification times in serum incubated for 15 min varied within a wide range, the mean values were longest for tuberculous effusion MNC, incubation for 20 h increased variation. Incubation of cells for 15 min with thromboplastin led to a decrease of mean recalcification time in tuberculous (p < 0.001) and heart failure (p < 0.05), and with no significance in carcinomatous effusions. Incubation with PPD led to decrease of recalcification time which was not significant. Comparisons of the mean relative recalcification times after PPD incubation showed that tuberculosis differed from lung cancer (p < 0.001), lung cancer from heart failure (p < 0.05), but not heart failure from tuberculosis. We conclude from our study that pleural effusion MNC express spontaneous PCA in vitro which is strongest in carcinomatous pleural effusions. Incubation of MNC with thromboplastin and less discernable with PPD leads to an increase in PCA which is more pronounced in tuberculous pleural effusions. However, due to substantial intersubject variability and overlap between the study groups, this test does not allow reliable differentiation of tuberculous from other MNC rich pleural effusions.

Topics: Blood Coagulation; Blood Coagulation Tests; Cell Count; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Heart Failure; Humans; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Pleural Effusion; Pleural Effusion, Malignant; Thromboplastin; Tuberculin; Tuberculosis, Pleural

Tissue factor (TF), a transmembrane surface protein, is known to initiate thrombogenesis through plasmatic and cellular activation processes. Besides complexing with factor VII, eventually leading to fibrin generation via the extrinsic pathway, TF can also activate factor IX, resulting in the intrinsic activation of coagulation. Other functions of TF are currently unknown, although various cells are believed to have TF receptors. Many of the post-surgical and post-interventional thrombotic events are due to the release of TF. Increased levels of TF are associated with several pathologic conditions such as cancer, sepsis and inflammation. Cellular necrosis also results in an increase of TF as the cells in the traumatized area lyse and release endogenous cell surface-bound TF. An ELISA method (American Diagnostica, Greenwich, CT) has been developed to assay TF antigen levels in various biological fluids. This ELISA employs a murine monoclonal antibody raised against native human TF for antigen capture. In this study, cerebrospinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, pleural effusion and urine from patients were assayed for their TF content using this ELISA method. Normal individual serum and plasma were also assayed as controls against which the levels of TF in the patients' body fluids could be compared. The amount of TF antigen in normal human plasma and serum was 165 +/- 139 pg/ml and 165 +/- 110 pg/ml, respectively. Concentrations of TF antigen in other fluids were: cerebrospinal fluid 868 +/- 721 pg/ml, peritoneal fluid 124 +/- 247 pg/ml, pleural effusion 385 +/- 569 pg/ml, synovial fluid 97 +/- 23 pg/ml, seminal plasma 11,485 +/- 875 pg/ml and urine 86 +/- 57 pg/ml.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Angioplasty; Ascitic Fluid; Body Fluids; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Disease; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Pleural Effusion; Semen; Sepsis; Synovial Fluid; Thromboplastin

Topics: Animals; Fibrinogen; Fibrinolysis; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Leukocyte Count; Pleura; Pleural Diseases; Pleural Effusion; Proteins; Prothrombin; Rabbits; Thromboplastin; Tissue Adhesions; Turpentine