Diagnostic value of ADA in Tuberculosis: a comparative study performed in Jammu, India

How to cite this paper: Singh K, Rahim G. Diagnostic value of ADA in Tuberculosis: a comparative study performed in Jammu, India. Annals of Applied Bio-sciences. 2014;1:A45-49 Kuldeep Singh*, Gousia Rahim Department of Pathology, Govt. Medical College, Jammu-180001, India Background: Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in patients is usually made by clinical, radiological and laboratory investigations including the biochemical test of measuring serum Adenosine deaminase activity (ADA). Present study aims at finding usefulness of serum ADA in pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: The study was carried out on 100 patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis by taking history, physical examination and investigations including three consecutive (spot-early morning) sputum sample examination, Mantoux test, posteroanterior chest X-ray, ESR by westergren method and estimation of serum ADA activity. Comparative evaluation of these investigations was made and usefulness of detecting serum ADA was established in pulmonary tuberculosis. Result: Out of 100 patients of pulmonary tuberculosis, serum ADA level was raised in 90 (90%) cases while Mantoux test was positive in 80 (80%) cases, chest Xray was suggestive in 75 (75%) cases, ESR was raised in 70 (70%) cases and sputum AFB was positive in 64 (64%) cases. Conclusion: Study of isoenzyme ADA is quite helpful in differentiating tuberculous and non-tuberculous etiology. Moreover being cost effective and less time consuming it should be done routinely as aid for diagnosis of tuberculosis.