Lung India (Jan 2008)

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) level in tubercular pleural effusion

  • Verma S,
  • Dubey A,
  • Singh P,
  • Tewerson S,
  • Sharma Devashish

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 3
pp. 109 – 110

Abstract

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Study objective : To study the value of adenosine deaminase level in tuber-cular pleural effusion. Design: A hospital based observational study. Setting : Out and In patients service of department of Tuberculosis & Chest Diseases, MLN Medical College Allahabad. Patients : 50 consecutive patients of pleural effusion, who were above the age of 12 years, were studied. RESULTS: Pleural fluid adenosine deaminase was more than 36 IU/L (36 to 229.7 IU/L) in tubercular pleural effusion (34 patients). In case of malignancy no. of patients was 08 and pleural fluid adenosine deaminase was more than 18.5 IU/L (18.5 to 87.6 IU/L). While in one case of hypoprotenemiea pleural fluid adenosine deaminase was 8.21 IU/L. If 36 IU/L is taken as cut of limit the sensitiv-ity and specificity of ADA for tuberculosis is 100 % and 77.7 %. More than 100 IU/L was exclusively seen in tubercular pleural effusion. Conclusion: ADA > 100IU/L was observed in TB only.

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