[Diagnostic importance of zinc in the etiologic determination of pleural effusions].

Concentration of zinc in blood serum and effusion was determined in 104 patients with the pleural effusion of different etiology. The importance of zinc concentration in serum and effusion was analyzed, as well as their relation regarding the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion. It was established that the isolated zinc concentrations in serum and pleural effusion could not be used separately either in differing transudates from exudates or in the diagnosis of the pleural diseases.