ArticlePloS one2026
Utility of cell-free DNA in diagnosing tuberculous pleurisy: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTuberculous pleurisy is the most common form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Diagnosis remains challenging due to the paucibacillary nature of pleural effusions, leading to low sensitivity of conventional microbiological methods and frequent reliance on invasive biopsy. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA), comprising fragmented genetic material released from host cells and pathogens into biofluids, presents a promising minimally-invasive biomarker. This protocol outlines a systematic review and meta-analysis designed to evaluate the overall diagnostic accuracy of cfDNA for tuberculous pleurisy and to identify factors influencing its performance.
methodsThis protocol is prospectively registered with PROSPERO. We will systematically search PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, The Cochrane Library from inception to June 2027. Diagnostic accuracy studies directly comparing cfDNA detection (in pleural fluid, plasma/serum) against a composite reference standard for tuberculous pleurisy (including microbiological, histological, or clinical diagnosis) will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen studies, extract data, and assess risk of bias using the QUADAS-2 tool. A bivariate random-effects meta-analysis will be performed to calculate pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratios. A hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve will be plotted. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression will explore sources of heterogeneity. The GRADE approach will be used to evaluate the certainty of evidence.
conclusionThis review will provide pooled estimates of the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of cfDNA for tuberculous pleurisy, evaluate its clinical utility, and identify key factors-such as sample type, detection technology, and pre-analytical procedures-associated with optimal performance. The findings will offer high-level evidence to guide clinical application and future research. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO Registration number: CRD420261424501.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.