Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To analyze the relationship between interleukin-35 (IL-35) and serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 6 (SRSF6) levels and pleural thickness in patients with tuberculous pleurisy, as well as their values of joint assessment for the risk of pleural tuberculoma.
METHODS A total of 100 patients with tuberculous pleurisy admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Linping Campus, from Jan. 2022 to Jul. 2024 were selected. The IL-35 and SRSF6 levels in pleural effusion and pleural thickness were measured. The relationship between IL-35, SRSF6 levels and pleural thickness were analyzed. After a one-year follow-up, patients with tuberculosis were divided into the occurrence group and non-occurrence group according to whether pleurotuberculoma developed. The risk factors for developing pleurotuberculoma and the value of IL-35 and SRSF6 in accessing the risk of developing pleurotuberculoma were analyzed.
RESULTS In patients with tuberculous pleurisy, IL-35 and SRSF6 in pleural effusion was (529.78±146.85) ng/L and (1.44±0.43) ng/ml, respectively, and the pleural thickness was (4.07±0.53) mm. IL-35 and SRSF6 levels in pleural effusion were positively correlated with pleural thickness (P < 0.05). Logistic analysis showed that the risk of pleural tuberculoma significantly increased in patients with tuberculous pleurisy when there was pleural fluid separation, abnormal pleural thickness and elevated levels of IL-35 and SRSF6 in pleural effusion (P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC), specificity and sensitivity of combined IL-35 and SRSF6 in predicting the occurrence of pleural tuberculoma in patients with tuberculous pleurisy were significantly higher than those of either marker alone (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION IL-35 and SRSF6 levels are positively correlated with the pleural thickness of tuberculous pleurisy, and the combined detection of IL-35 and SRSF6 can effectively assess the risk of pleural tuberculoma in tuberculous pleurisy patients.