A Study of Adenosine Deaminase Level in Patients with Pleural Effusion

Abstract

Introduction: Pleural fluid is an abnormal collection of fluid in the pleural cavity. Tuberculosis is a major health problem in India &globally and it is a second most common cause of death from infectious diseases. Present study is to find out the role of Adenosine Deaminase level & its diagnostic utility in patients with pleural effusion. Methods: This study includes 100 patients admitted in SCL General hospital & VS General Hospital Ahmedabad from September 2012 to July 2014 which was diagnosed as having pleural effusion. Result: Pleural fluid ADA level of the study group ranged from 51 -145 IU/L with a mean of 76.38+- 21.33IU/L and (P value of < 0.0001) was statistically significant. Sensitivity and Specificity of the test was found 95% and 100% respectively. Conclusion: All patients with TB pleural effusion had elevated ADA levels in pleural fluid. In this study there was a statistical significant association P value (<0.0001) of ADA levels. This pleural fluid ADA estimation seems to have the potential for being one of the reliable tests for the diagnosis of TB pleural effusion which is adequately sensitive and specific and easy to perform.

Keywords

• Pleural effusion
• Adenosine Deaminase
• Tuberculosis
• Sensitivity
• Specificity