Characteristics of pleural fluid tests distinguishing non-purulent uncomplicated and complicated parapneumonic effusions
| Biomarker | Sensitivity % | Specificity % | AUC % |
| pH ≤7.20 | 57 (44–70) | 93 (85–100) | 0.83 (0.75–0.91) |
| Glucose ≤60 mg·dL−1 | 59 (46–71) | 90 (82–98) | 0.80 (0.72–0.88) |
| LDH ≥1000 U·L−1 | 75 (63–86) | 82 (71–92) | 0.82 (0.75–0.90) |
| CRP ≥80 mg·L−1 | 68 (56–79) | 75 (63–87) | 0.81 (0.63–0.88) |
| sTREM-1 ≥180 pg·mL−1 | 72 (61–83) | 82 (71–92) | 0.79 (0.70–0.86) |
| PCT ≥0.25 ng·mL−1 | 33 (21–45) | 72 (59–86) | 0.59 (0.49–0.70) |
| LBP ≥17 µg·mL−1 | 76 (64–87) | 81 (70–92) | 0.84 (0.76–0.91) |
AUC: area under the curve; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; CRP: C-reactive protein; sTREM-1: soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1; PCT: procalcitonin; LBP: lipopolysaccharide binding protein. Reproduced from [15] with permission.