Diagnostic value of adenosine deaminase isoenzyems in tuberculous pleurisy and carcinomatous pleurisy

Objective To investigate the differential diagnostic significance of examination of adenosine deaminase(ADA)isoenzymes activity(ADA2)in tuberculous pleurisy and carcinomatous pleurisy.Methods Thirty-six tuberculous effusions from the patients with confirmed tuberculosis were examined,twenty-eight carcinomatous effusions from the patients with confirmed cancer were examined with total ADA and ADA2 activity.Results Total ADA and ADA2 activity in tuberculous pleurisy was hihger than that in carcinomatous pleurisy(P0.01).The sensitive diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy was 83.3% by ADA,the specitive diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy was 92.86% by ADA.The sensitive diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy was 83.3% by ADA2,the specitive diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy was 96.43% by ADA2.Conclusion Total ADA and ADA2 activity could be used as valuable parameters for the differentiation of tuberculous effusion from carcinomatous pleurisy.