Evaluation of adenosine deaminase activity for diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion

Authors

  • SK Bhoumik Department of Medicine, National Institute of Disease of the Chest and Hospital, Dhaka,
  • MM Rahman Department of Medicine, National Institute of Disease of the Chest and Hospital, Dhaka,
  • M Ibrahim Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Lab Medicine Apollo Hospital, Dhaka,
  • MM Hiron Department of Medicine, National Institute of Disease of the Chest and Hospital, Dhaka,
  • M Ahamad Department of Respiratory medicine, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka,

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i5.7860

Keywords:

Adenosine deaminase, Pleural Effusion, Tuberculosis

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis is a leading cause of worldwide preventable morbidity and mortality from an infectious agent. A defi nite diagnosis of tubercular pleural effusion can be diffi cult to make because of low sensitivity and/or specifi city of noninvasive traditional diagnostic tools. This study is done to fi nd out a sensitive and specifi c marker for early diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and three pleural effusion cases were enrolled in the study, out of which 62 were tuberculous pleural effusion cases and 49 were non-tuberculous cases.

Results: Considering 40 U/L as a cut off value for Adenosine deaminase assay level, the test result was positive in 58 out of 62 patients of tuberculosis indicating sensitivity of the test as 94%; however, among 41 non-tuberculous patients, 5 presented ADA activity level more than 40U/L, which lowers the specifi city of the test to 88%. ADA levels were signifi cantly higher in tuberculous than in non tuberculous cases (P value <0.001).

Conclusion: It may be concluded that ADA levels are signifi cantly high in patients with tuberculous pleural effusion compared to that in non tuberculous group. Sensitivity (94%) and specifi city (88%) of the test in tuberculous pleural effusions are very high, when cut off value set at 40U/L. The result indicated that the analysis of ADA levels in pleural effusion constitute a very useful marker for the diagnosis of TPE which, in addition, can be made quickly in a non- invasive way.

Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, No.1, Issue 5, 367-373

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i5.7860

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Published

2013-03-27

How to Cite

Bhoumik, S., Rahman, M., Ibrahim, M., Hiron, M., & Ahamad, M. (2013). Evaluation of adenosine deaminase activity for diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion. Journal of Pathology of Nepal, 3(5), 367–373. https://doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i5.7860

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Original Articles