ADENOSINE-DEAMINASE ESTIMATIONS IN THE DIFFERENTIATION OF PLEURAL EFFUSIONS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 62  (16) , 556-558
Abstract
Adenosine deaminase (ADA) estimations were performed on the pleural fluid from 368 [human] effusions. The mean (.+-. SD) ADA concentration in tuberculous effusions was 92.11 .+-. 37.05 U/l, and these values were highly statistically different from the 23.23 .+-. 13.15 U/l in secondary malignant tumors of the pleura, the 34.86 .+-. 14.2 U/l in mesotheliomas and the 23.81 .+-. 15.07 U/l in pulmonary embolism. The ADA values of 64.3 .+-. 44.95 U/l in lymphoproliferative disorders were less significantly different. No statistical difference could be found beteen values in the tuberculous group and the ADA levels of 97.57 .+-. 82 U/l found in para-infective effusions, but these could be distinguished from each other by microscopic examination of the pleural fluid. The importance of ADA estimations in the diagnosis and differentiation of tubeculous effusions is discussed and the role of microscopy is emphasized.

This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit: