Evaluation of the efficacy of several sclerosing agents for pleurodesis in rats

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficiencies and effects of different sclerosing agents. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five female Wistar-albino rats were included in this study and divided into five groups randomly. Isotonic saline (group 1), iodopovidone (group 2), rifamycin (group 3), autologous blood (group 4), talc (group 5) were given into intrapleural space. On postoperative 28th day, ipsilateral and contralateral pleural and parenchymal fibrosis and inflammation were evaluated. Results: There were statistically differences between control and other groups on macroscopically pleural fibrosis examination (p=0.004, p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.000, respectively). Microscopically pleural fibrosis were determined in all groups when compared to control group (p=0.023, p=0.023, p=0.035, p=0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences between sclerosing agent groups (p>0.05). Significant differences were observed according to microscopic pleural inflammation evaluation between talc group and other groups. There was superiority in talc group according to intraparenchymal inflammation grade compared to other groups (p=0.010, p=0.042, p=0.030, respectively). Macroscopically, fibrosis and microscopically, inflammation were significantly observed between talc and other groups in the contralateral pleura (p = 0.037and p=0.009, respectively). Conclusion: Iodopovidone, autologous blood, talc, and rifamycin can be used as effective pleurodesis agents. However, we found that rifamycin and autologous blood are safer as effective pleurodesis agents. We think that these two agents can be used in patients with secondary lung diseases due to their less intraparenchymal inflammation rates. It may be advantageous to prefer other sclerosing agents which has lower costs and less side effects comparing to talc.