ObjectiveTo investigated the levels of aldolase A (ALDOA) in pleural effusion in patients with different pathological types of lung cancer and patients with tuberculous pleurisy,and the correlation between ALDOA and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH). Methods80 cases of pleural effusion samples were collected,of which 65 cases of lung cancer (malignant group) and 15 cases of tuberculous pleurisy (TB group). All the patients were not treated with anti-inflammatory or steroid therapy. ALDOA concentrations in pleural effusion were detected by ELISA and the contents of CEA and LDH in pleural fluid were detected by chemiluminescence assay. ResultsThe levels of ALDOA,CEA and LDH in the malignant group were 46.75±21.39 ng/mL,82.24±56.63 ng/mL,755.76±382.54 U/L respectively,and were 23.92±17.21 ng/mL,2.55±1.67 ng/mL,and 388.37±163.87 U/L in the TB group respectively. The levels of ALDOA,CEA and LDH in the malignant group were significantly higher than those in the TB group (P<0.01). The concentrations of ALDOA in malignant pleural effusion from different pathological types of lung cancer were 71.65±32.09 ng/mL(adenocarcinoma),22.43±18.23 ng/mL(small cell lung cancer),and 19.16±13.85 ng/mL(squamous cell carcinoma),respectively. The concentration of ALDOA in malignant pleural effusion from the adenocarcinoma patients was significantly higher than that in the other two types (P<0.05). The concentration of CEA was 112.40±62.71 ng/mL(adenocarcinoma),62.45±54.78 ng/mL(small cell lung cancer),and 71.87±52.4 ng/mL(squamous cell carcinoma),respectively. It was significantly higher in adenocarcinoma than that in other two types (P<0.05). The levels of LDH were 661.81±328.93 U/L(adenocarcinoma),737.62±315.41 U/L(small cell lung cancer),767.85±503.28 U/L(squamous cell carcinoma),respectively. There was no significant difference in three types(P>0.05). The concentrations of ALDOA in pleural effusion from the patients with lung cancer or tuberculous pleurisy were positively correlated with the concentrations of CEA and LDH (P<0.01 or 0.05). ConclusionThe levels of ALDOA,CEA and LDH in malignant pleural effusion from lung cancer patients were significantly higher than those in pleural effusion from patients with tuberculous pleurisy. The ALDOA and CEA levels in malignant pleural effusion from lung adenocarcinoma patients were significantly higher than those in small cell lung cancer and squamous cell carcinoma patients. There were highly positive correlation between ALDOA,CEA and LDH levels.