Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Nov 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA study of loculated tuberculous pleural effusions treated with intrapleural urokinase.
To assess the effect of intrapleural urokinase, vis-à-vis simple pleural drainage, on residual pleural thickening in a series of patients suffering from loculated tuberculous pleural effusion. ⋯ Our study shows that patients with loculated tuberculous pleural effusion treated with urokinase suffered less from residual pleural thickening, as measured after six months, than those treated by simple drainage. It is therefore suggested that the administration of intrapleural urokinase is a safe and effective treatment for those patients who drain a larger quantity of pleural fluid.