Study objective: To study the value of adenosine deaminase level in tuber-cular pleural effusion.
Design: A hospital based observational study.
Setting: Out and In patients service of department of Tuberculosis & Chest Diseases, MLN Medical College Allahabad.
Patients: 50 consecutive patients of pleural effusion, who were above the age of 12 years, were studied.
Results: Pleural fluid adenosine deaminase was more than 36 IU/L (36 to 229.7 IU/L) in tubercular pleural effusion (34 patients). In case of malignancy no. of patients was 08 and pleural fluid adenosine deaminase was more than 18.5 IU/L (18.5 to 87.6 IU/L). While in one case of hypoprotenemiea pleural fluid adenosine deaminase was 8.21 IU/L. If 36 IU/L is taken as cut of limit the sensitiv-ity and specificity of ADA for tuberculosis is 100 % and 77.7 %. More than 100 IU/L was exclusively seen in tubercular pleural effusion.
Conclusion: ADA > 100IU/L was observed in TB only.
Keywords: Pleural fluid ADA level; Tubercular Pleural effusion.