QUINACRINE-INDUCED PLEURAL INFLAMMATION IN MALIGNANT PLEURISY - RELATION BETWEEN DRAINAGE TIME OF PLEURAL FLUID AND LOCAL INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA LEVELS

In this study, the levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) were measured in pleural fluid from patients with chronic malignant pleural effusions, before and during quinacrine-induced pleurodesis. IL-1beta levels increased significantly within 24 h after the instillation of quinacrine (p < 0.001). The levels of IL-1beta correlated with the amount of pleural fluid production as well as with the tube drainage treatment time. Thus, the more IL-1beta levels increased the higher pleural fluid production was seen and a longer drainage treatment time was needed. There were no correlations between IL-1beta levels and degree of fever, recruitment of pleural leucocytes, activity of pleural coagulation or inhibition of pleural fibrinolysis.