Expression of YKL-40 and MIP-1a proteins in exudates and transudates: biomarkers for differential diagnosis of pleural effusions? A pilot study

Table 2 Clinical parameters among the four exudates subgroups

	Tuberculosis (n = 10)	Lung Ca (n = 13)	Metastatic Ca (n = 15)	Parapneumonic effusions (n = 11)	P-value
Gender
Male	6 (60.0 %)	11 (84.6 %)	8 (53.3 %)	8 (72.7 %)	0.32^a
Female	4 (40.0 %)	2 (15.4 %)	7 (46.7 %)	3 (28.3 %)	0.32^a
Age (mean ± SD, years)	27.1 ± 5.2	71.1 ± 13.3	70.4 ± 11.3	63.2 ± 16.5	<0.001^b
Smoking habit
Current smokers	0 (0.0 %)	9 (69.2 %)	5 (33.3 %)	5 (45.5 %)	0.023^a
Non-smokers	10 (100.0 %)	3 (23.1 %)	9 (60.0 %)	6 (54.5 %)
Ex-smokers	0 (0.0 %)	1 (7.7 %)	1 (6.7 %)	0 (0.0 %)
Pack-years (mean ± SD)	—	57.5 ± 29.6	73.3 ± 46.8	29.0 ± 26.6	0.11^b

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