DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY OF ADENOSINE DEAMINASE ACTIVITY IN TUBERCULAR PLEURAL EFFUSION

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis is a most common cause of exudative pleural effusion in India which usually occurs as a complication of primary pulmonary tuberculosis.Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an enzyme which is produced by activated T-lymphocytes in response to the mycobacteria.ADA in pleural fluid will be comparatively higher than in serum indicating the local synthesis of ADA by activated T-lymphocytes.Thus the estimation of ADA in tubercular pleural fluid helps in the diagnosis of tubercular pleural effusion.The purpose of this study is to find out the role of ADA levels in tuberculous pleural effusions.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital.30 cases of tubercular pleural effusion, admitted in the medical ward during the period of one year were considered.RESULTS: The pleural fluid ADA levels were more than 40U/L in all cases of tuberculous pleural effusion.CONCLUSION: The determination of ADA level is cost effective and simple procedure to be considered for routine investigation of patients with pleural effusion, especially in a country like India where tuberculosis out numbers the other causes of lymphocytic pleural effusion.