Abstract: Objective  To investigated the clinical efficacy with the method of reconciliation and diuresis on encapsulated tuberculous pleural effusion.   Methods  We randomly divided 120 participants, which were diagnosed as encapsulated tuberculous pleural effusion, into 2 groups(the treatment group and the control). Before and after treatments, we observed the levels of TNF-α in pleural effusion. The pleural thickness was measured before and at the end of the first,the third and the ninth months after treatments. The comprehensive curative effect was evaluated at the third and the ninth months after treatment.  Results  There was significant difference in the levels of TNF-α in pleural effusion between 2 groups（t=－3.114, P<0.01), which were (35.35±17.46) pg/L and (47.16±18.89) pg/L in treatment group and the control, respectively. The pleural thickness measured on CT between 2 groups was statistically significant difference at the different month after treatment(F=42.727，P=0.000)，which were (0.42±0.27) cm、(0.31±0.26) cm、(0.25±0.21) cm at the first，third and ninth months after treatments in treatment group, respectively and were (0.54±0.30) cm、(0.42±0.32) cm、(0.37±0.28) cm at the same months after treatments in control group, respectively. While compared comprehensively efficacy between 2 groups, comprehensive improvement was more significant in the treatment group (70.69%, 41/58; 89.66%, 52/58) at the the third and ninth months after the treatments(Z=－2.856 and －3.192 respectively,both of P＜0.05), than that of in the control group (45.00%, 27/60; 65.00%, 39/60). Conclusion  The method of reconciliation and diuresis combined with antituberculosis drugs to treat encapsulated tuberculous pleural effusion is better than the method with antituberculosis drugs only. It can reduce pleural adhesion and the levels of TNF-α in pleural effusion.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pleural/zhong yi liao fa, Pleural effusion, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha