Subgroup analyses revealed that higher VEGF levels in pleural effusion than serum in patients with TB were found in studies of East Asia & Pacific (p = 0.0048), not in studies of Europe & Central Asia (p = 0.9158), Latin America & Caribbean (p = 0.8027), and Middle Ease & North Africa (p = 0.1699) (S15 Fig). The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is Pleural effusion.