Development and Validation of the COMPLES Score for Differentiating Between Tuberculous Effusions with Low Pleural pH or Glucose and Complicated Parapneumonic Effusions

Background The frequency of “complicated” pleural effusions (CPE) (i.e., pleural fluid pH ≤ 7.2 and/or glucose ≤60 mg/dL) of tuberculous origin (CTPE) is not well reported. This study aims to quantify their prevalence, and develop a score to differentiate CTPE from complicated parapneumonic effusions (CPPE).