Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific immunospot assay of pleural exudate mononuclear cells is useful for the exclusion of tuberculous pleuritis in patients with lupus pleuritis.

It is often difficult to make a diagnosis of pleuritis associated with rheumatic diseases because of lack of specific diagnostic tools. We report a patient with lupus pleuritis from which tuberculous pleuritis was distinguished by Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific enzyme-linked immunospot assay of pleural exudate mononuclear cells. After the diagnosis of lupus pleuritis, the patient was successfully treated with prednisolone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]