Diagnostic value of adenosine deaminase(ADA) for the tuberculous pleural effusion / 中国基层医药

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the value of adenosine deaminase( ADA) for the diagnosis of tubercu-lous pleural effusion.Methods A retrospective analysis was made of 324 cases of tuberculous pleural effusion patients which were effective treated and 68 cases were diagnosed of malignant pleural effusion.By drawing receiver operating characteristic curve, the best threshold of diagnosing of tuberculous pleural effusion was determined,and the distribution characteristics of ADA in tuberculous pleural effusion were analyzed.Results When the ADA was set at 19.5U/L it was good for identifying tuberculous empyema and tuberculous pleurisy.The activity of ADA in group of different gender did not have significant difference(Z=-0.572,P=0.283).The activity of ADA had significant difference between tuberculous empyema with tuberculous pleurisy patients(Z=-2.317,P=0.01),and the same as in group of different ages between less than or equal to 45 years old with the others(Z=-2.387,P=0.008).The activity of ADA had significant difference between tuberculous empyema and tuberculous pleurisy patients of younger than 45 years old(Z=-2.740,P=0.003),but not in the group of less than or equal to 45 years old (Z=-0.267, P=0.390).Conclusion The activity of ADA is good for identifying diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion and malignant pleural effusion, especially in tuberculous empyema and less than or equal to 45 years old patients.The standard of diagnosis and the nature of the tuberculous pleural effusion may affect the cut-off value of ADA.