Cilazapril-induced pleural effusion: A case report and review of the literature.

Sir,

We read with interest the article by Kupeli et al. on “Cilazapril-induced pleural effusion: A case report and review of the literature.”[1] We would like to make the following comments:

Recognition of adverse drug effects (ADRs) and establishing a causal relationship between the drug and the adverse event is essential. The authors should have objectively assessed and presented “Cilazapril-induced pleural effusion” based on an acceptable “Probability Scale.” The causality assessment system proposed by the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring, the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (WHO-UMC) and the Naranjo probability scale are the generally accepted and most widely used methods for causality assessment in clinical practice as they offer a simple methodology.[23] They are well-structured, consistent and easy to apply assessment methods. Tables 1 and 2 summarise the “Naranjo ADR Probability Scale” and the WHO-UMC causality system, respectively.[23] We request the Editors that Annals of Thoracic Medicine should use either of the above two scales while reviewing articles related to ADRs.

Table 1

Naranjo ADR probability scale: Items and score

Table 2

WHO-UMC causality categories