Serum Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in normal healthy control subjects increases upto 30 years, remains steady between 31-60 years of age and shows a steep increase in the age group of 61-70 years. This was compared with serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activity which also showed a gradual increase upto 40 years of age and decreased thereafter. The activities of serum ADA, AST and ALT increased in patients with hepatitis of all age groups compared to their respective controls. The degree of increase in the activities of the above enzymes in hepatitis, decreased with age. The present study also shows that while studying serum ADA activity in hepatitis for diagnostic purposes, the value obtained in a particular age group should be compared with normal range of values for the respective age group only.
Keywords: ADA; Aging; Hepatitis; Serum.