Table 4 Outcomes of intrapleural alteplase in infective and malignant pleural effusion

Baseline chest radiograph (cm²)

112.26 ± 56.31

137.91 ± 54.2

0.258

Duration from baseline chest radiograph to intervention (days)

2.5 (1–11)

1 (1–8)

0.319

Week 1^a

Chest radiograph changes (%)–mean

32.33 ± 42.85

30.14 ± 14.25

0.883

Success rate (n)

8 (38.1%)

0 (0%)

-

Week 4–8^b

Chest radiograph changes (%)—median (IQR)

62 (− 0.5–96.8)

37.02 (0.83–68.42)

0.457

Success rate(n)

11 (57.9%)

4 (50%)

1.000

Pre-intervention total white cells (× 10⁹/L)—median (IQR)

9.7 (4.1–31.3)

12.8 (9.1–60.4)

0.023

48 h post-intervention total white cells (× 10⁹/L)—median (IQR)

11.2 (5.4–25)

15.6 (12–84.8)

0.001

Pre-intervention CRP (mg/dL)—median (IQR)

10.03 (0.89–33.2)

8.2 (0.48–17.10)

0.210

48 h post-intervention CRP (mg/dL)–median (IQR)

11.59 ± 4.27

27.9 ± 24.24

0.079

Increment in drainage post-intervention (mls)—median (IQR)

1190 (− 21.75–2414.5)

1020 (− 72.5–2392.5)

0.851

Duration of chest tube (days)—median (IQR)

11 (8–23.75)

20 (11.5–23)

0.404

Length of stay (days)—median (IQR)

20.5 (15–34.75)

21.5 (16.5–26)

0.719

Surgical referral (n)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

-

Mortality in 30 days (n)

1 (3%)

1 (10%)

0.336

Immediate post-intervention complications^c (n)

6 (20%)

5 (50%)

0.103

 Bleeding

0

1

 Fever

5

1

 Chest pain

1

3