ADENOSINE-DEAMINASE ACTIVITY IN SERUM AND PLEURAL EFFUSIONS OF TUBERCULOUS AND NONTUBERCULOUS PATIENTS

In a retrospective study Adenosine deaminase (ADA), was assayed in 86 serum samples and 12 pleural fluid samples of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Serum and pleural fluid ADA levels were also examined in a group of 38 non-tuberculous patients with pleural effusion. Highly significant increases in both serum and pleural fluid ADA levels were noted in tuberculous patients when compared to both control enzyme cut -off values and non-tuberculous pleural effusion patients. Negative Zi ehl-Nielsen staining for acid fast bacilli and Purified Protein Deriva tive skin test results were obtained in 32.3% and 11.1% of the examine d patients respectively. All these patients showed significantly eleva ted serum or pleural fluid ADA levels. It is hereby suggested that ser um and pleural fluid ADA levels can in conjunction with other tests, s erve as a marker in patients of pulmonary tuberculosis.