Serum adenosine deaminase activty in varieties of chronic liver diseases

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted on 71 patients with chronic liver diseases; 15 with chronic active hepatitis, 41 with liver cirrhosis and 15 with hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. Fourteen apparently healthy subjects matched for age and sex with patients shared in the study as controls. The study revealed significantly increased activity levels of ADA in patients with chronic active hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and HCC compared with controls [mean +/- SE, 35.8 +/- 1.1, 54.4 +/- 4.9 and 78.9 +/- 10.6, respectively, versus 20.7 +/- 1.7 in the controls]. The highest mean level was found in patients with HCC. The serum ADA activity levels reflected the status of derangement of liver functions in the patients. This was evident from the significant correlations between their liver functions tests and serum ADA activity levels. Moreover, the latter showed significant positive correlation with the score of modified Child classification i.e. the grade of liver cell failure in cirrhotic patients