[Determination of glucose and fructose for the differential diagnosis of pleural effusions (author's transl)].

The glucose and fructose concentrations in the punctured liquid and the glucose effusion serum quotient were determined for 200 persons with pleural effusions of different genesis. It was tried to estimate the diagnostic value of this quotient for the differentiation of effusions of malignant, specific, nonspecific genesis and cardiac transsudations. A serum comparison value of the punctured fructose was determined in a control group of 30 persons with healthy metabolism value. The results of the examinations show, that a certain separation between the malignant and tuberculous exsudations is possible by means of the determination of glucose. The glucose level for the pleuritis exsudativa tuberculosa amounts to about 50 till 70 mg% whereas its value lies above the serum mean value for the malignant basic disease (glucose effusion serum quotient above 1). The determination of fructose seems to be limited suitable for the differentiation of the specific and nonspecific pleural diseases. The classification of the glucose and fructose concentrations has in relation with other examination parameters a differential diagnostic value, especially for the differentiation of malignant and specific pleural effusions. The tests for both parameters can be realized in every laboratory-clinical-chemistry.