Abstract: Objective To determine the effects of intrapleural injection of urokinase for patients with encapsulated tuberculous pleural effusion.Methods Regular antituberculosis treatment was given to all patients observed.Urokinase and INH were injected 50.000U/day and 300mg/day respectively into the pleural cavity of 21 patients with encapsulated tuberculous pleural effusion for 5 days.While prednisolone of 125mg/day plus INH of 300mg/day were injected into the pleural cavity of 14 patients of the control group.Results 94.3%(19/21)of the 21 cases of the study group achieved complete improvement and another 5.7%(2/21)of the studied cases achieved partial improvement.While in control group,complete improvement occurred only in 35.7%(5/14),partial improvement was seen in 42.9%(6/14) and inefficacy remaind among the other 13.4%(3/14)of the patients.Conclusion For patients with encapsulated tuberculous pleural effusion,regular antituberculosis treatemnt plus urokinase injection into the pleural cavity can increase the drainage,decrease pleural thichening and improve pulmonary function of the patients.

Key words: Urokinase, Pleural effusion, Tuberculosis, pleural