Evaluation of Adenosine Deaminase (Ada) in Tuberculous Pleurisy

Tuberculosis is a global health problem whose morbidity and mortality is increasing, as one-third of the world population is estimated to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and eight million new active cases occur annually commonest being pulmonary tuberculosis and is often associated with effusion. Delay in diagnosis and treatment results in poor prognosis. Adenosine deaminase estimation was done by Blake-Berman method. The purpose of this study is to find out the role of ADA levels in differentiation of tuberculous and non-tuberculous exudative pleural effusions of different etiologies. Adenosine deaminase values were compared between tuberculous and non-tuberculous groups and difference in these values was statistically significant (*p<0.01 for ADA). Adenosine deaminase estimation in pleural fluid has long been taken as a marker for tuberculous pleurisy. ADA levels in non-tuberculous exudative pleural effusions rarely exceeded the cutoff; set for tuberculous disease. The pleural fluid ADA levels were significantly higher in tuberculous exudative pleural effusions when compared with non-tuberculous exudative pleural effusions.