Diagnostic value of combined determination of serum ADA,LDH and CEA in tuberculous and malignant pleural effusion

Objective To determine the differential diagnostic value of combined determination of serum adenosine deaminase(ADA),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)in tuberculous and malignant pleural effusion.Methods There were 86 cases including 38 patients with malignant pleural effusion(malignant group)and 48 patients with tuberculous pleural effusion(tuberculous group)in this study.ADA and LDH were detected by terminal reaction of enzymology,and CEA was detected by chemiluninescence immunoassay.Results The concentrations of ADA in tuberculous pleural effusion were significantly higher than those in malignantpleural effusion(P0.01).However,the concentrations of CEA(pleural effusion/serum)in malignant pleural effusion were significantly higher than those in tuberculous pleural effusion(P0.01).The sensitivity and specificity of combined determination of three indexes were 78.3% and 93.7% respectively.And the specificity was higher in these indexes significantly compared with the single test.Conclusion The combined determination of ADA,LDH and CEA in pleural effusion is of great value in differentiating tuberculous pleural effusion from malignant pleural effusion.