The Utility of Pleural Adenosine Deaminase for Diagnosis of Differentiating Tuberculous Pleural Effusion in Children / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of pleural adenosine deaminase (ADA) in differentiating tuberculous pleural effusion from non tuberculous pleural effusion of children. METHODS: We measured pleural ADA activity in patients with pleural effusion whose age were from seven months to seventeen years from January 1995 to October 2001. By some criteria the patients were grouped to tuberculous pleural effusion, bacterial effusion, mycoplasma effusion, malignant effusion, and other effusion. RESULTS: The mean pleural ADA activity in tuberculous pleural effusion was 86.2+/-27.3 U/L. Pleural ADA activities in bacterial effusion, mycoplasma effusion, malignant effusion, other effusion were 32.6+/-20.1, 22.1+/-15.4, 23.1+/-10.9, 36.7+/-28.4 U/L, respectively. Pleural ADA activity in tuberculous pleural effusion was significantly higher than in any other group(P<0.001). At a level of 50 U/L, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (ppv), and and negative predictive value(npv) for the identification of tuberculous pleural effusion from nontuberculous pleural effusion were calculated at 93.8%, 84.8%, 81.1%, 95.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pleural ADA is a useful test in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion of children from nontuberculous pleural effusion.

Evaluation of Imaging Studies in Male Infants less than 3 Months after First Urinary Tract Infection

PURPOSE : To evaluate the frequency of urinary tract anomalies in male neonates less than 3months old who presented with urinary tract infection(UTI) and to evaluate a appropriate imaging approach after first UTI. MATERIALS AND METHODS : During a period of 5 years, from March 1994 to February 1999, 65 male infants less than 3months old(range: 4-92 days, mean: 43 days) with UTI were evaluated. Ultrasound(US) and Voiding cystourethrogram(VCUG) were done in 60 patients. Due to refusal and technological problem, 5 patients were missed. 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan (99mTc-DMSA renal scan) was recommended to most patients but performed in 40 patients. Renal scan was performed at least 3 months later after urinary tract infection. RESULTS : Urinary tract anomalies were found in 26 of 65 infants. Twenty-six had vesicoureteral reflux(VUR), two had both VUR and double ureter, two had both VUR and posterior urethral valve. In patients with VUR, eight had renal scar or renal atrophies. In case of renal scar or atrophy, grades of VUR were III or above. CONCLUSION : We suggest that US and VCUG should be routinely performed in infants(<3months)with first UTI. 99mTc-DMSA renal scan should be performed only when renal parenchymal damage was observed in US and VUR grade III or above in VCUG.