Comparison of the Effectiveness of Oral Doxycycline, Homologous Blood and Talc as Pleural Sclerosing Agents in Rats

Kang, Shin Kwang; Won, Tae Hee; Kim, Si Wook; Na, Myung Hoon; Yu, Jae Hyun; Lim, Seung Pyung; Lee, Young; Kang, Dae Young

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Parenteral tetracycline is no longer available for pleural sclerosing agent for pleurodesis in Korea due to the discontinuation of the production. The purposes of this study were to determine whether oral doxycycline (ODC) could be used as an effective sclerosing agent for pleurodesis, and to compare the effectiveness of ODC to other agents, such as homologous blood and talc. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty male rats were divided into four groups (A to D). Following agents were given to each group intrapleurally; 10 ml/kg of 0.9% saline to group A, 10 mg/kg of ODC to group B, 2 ml/kg of homologous blood to group C, and 70 mg/kg of talc slurry to group D. All animals were sacrificed 28 days after instillation. The pleural spaces were assessed grossly and microscopically and were graded from 0 to 3, and the thicknesses of the pleura were measured. RESULT: The gross score of group A was 0.0, group B was 1.4+/-0.9, group C was 1.0+/-0.7, and group D was 2.2+/-0.8. Significant adhesion were examined in group B and D grossly (p<0.05). The pleural thickness of group A was 0.7+/-0.2 /10(2) mm, group B was 1.2+/-0.4 /10(2) mm, group C was 1.4+/-0.4 /10(2) mm, and group D was 3.5+/-0.9 /10(2) mm. Group D showed pleural thickening significantly (p<0.05). The microscopic score of group A was 1.0, group B was 1.7+/-0.5, group C was 1.5+/-0.4, and group D was 2.8+/-0.4. Group B and D showed significant inflammations and depositions of collagen (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
ODC showed significant pleurodesis grossly and microscopically, and homologous blood did not show adhesion. Talc was a significant sclerosing agent for pleurodesis causing extensive inflammation and collagen depisotion.