Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of Doxycycline for pleurodesis in cases of malignant pleural effusions.

Subject and Methods; This was a descriptive case study conducted at Sheikh Zayed Hospital Rahim Yar Khan during the period of May 2021 to November 2021. In this study the diagnosed cases of malignant pleural effusion, irrespective of its type and metastasis in adult age range were included of both genders. The pleural effusion was effectively drained with appropriate chest drain. After complete drainage assessed by X ray chest PA view, 10 capsules of Doxycycline (100 mg) were diluted in 50 ml normal saline and were injected through chest drain and clamped for 24 hours. Paracetamol was given as analgesia. The drain was re opened after 24 hours and were followed by X ray chest to label for any fluid presence. Efficacy was lapelled as yes where there was no fluid on x ray and drain output was less than 50 ml.  

Results: In this study, there were total 40 cases of malignant pleural effusion of any type. Out of these 22 (62%) were females and 18 (34%) males. The mean age was 52.39±9.13 years. Regarding different types of CA, the most common was CA breast comprising 30 (60%) of the cases followed by lung cancer seen in 15 (30%) of cases. The efficacy of Doxycycline for pleurodesis was observed in 22 (56%) of cases. The efficacy was observed in 12 (72.73%) cases with effusion less than 1 liter with p= 0.01. There was no significant difference in terms of duration of pleural effusion where it was seen in 55% of cases with effusion more than 1 month and 60% of cases with duration less than this with p= 0.83.

Conclusion: Doxycycline has shown its efficacy for pleurodesis in almost half of the cases.

Keywords: Doxycycline, Pleurodesis, Fever, Pulmonology, Epidemiological