Utility of pleural fluid adenosine deaminase in diagnosing tubercular pleural effusion: a prospective observational study in a tertiary care hospital

Background: The diagnosis of Tubercular (TB) pleural effusion continues to be a challenge in clinical practice, as traditional diagnostic methods are useful but do not provide enough sensitivity and specificity.Methods: This was a prospective observational study carried out at Tertiary care Hospital with study population of 76 patients. Etiological diagnosis was based on clinical history with radiological imaging, biochemical and cytological examination of pleural fluid. Pleural fluid ADA was used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of tubercular pleural effusion.Results: The study included 76 patients with 69.7% (n=53) males and 30.3%(n=23) females. The mean age of patients was 48.97 17.03 years. Of 76 cases of pleural effusion, 62 were exudates and 14 transudates. Tuberculosis was the most common cause among exudates which accounted for 51.3% (n=39) of cases. The sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV), Accuracy of pleural fluid ADA in diagnosing tubercular pleural effusion was 92.3%, 97.3%, 97%, 92% and 94.7% respectively.Conclusions: Pleural fluid ADA can be one of the most reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis of TB pleural effusion considering its high sensitivity and specificity.

Metabolic syndrome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is considered as a systemic disease due to associated systemic inflammation which can manifest as metabolic syndrome or its component illnesses. This study was undertaken to determine the proportion of metabolic syndrome in patients with COPD.Methods: 51 patients with COPD were compared with equal number of age and gender matched controls. GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) criteria were used for diagnosing COPD. Metabolic Syndrome (MS) was diagnosed based on modified NCEP:ATP III criteria (National cholesterol education Program Adult Treatment Panel III). Subjects were evaluated for hypertension, WC, FBS, and serum triglycerides and serum HDL (High-density lipoprotein) to diagnose MS.Results: Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 16 (31.4%) patients with COPD and in 8 (15.7%) controls. The proportion of individual parameters of MS in cases and controls was as follows: DM in 19 (37.3%) cases and 13 (25.5%) controls, hypertension in 21(41.2%) cases and 9 (17.6%) controls, low serum HDL in 31 (60.7%) cases and 22 (43.1%) controls increased WC in 14 (27.5%) cases and 7 (13.7%) controls and elevated serum TG in 12 (23.5%) cases and an equal number of controls.Conclusions: Metabolic syndrome and its parameters are more prevalent in COPD patients. Early detection and treatment of MS in COPD patients can prevent development of complications due to the combined effects of both diseases