[Informative value of adenosine deaminase and 2-deoxyadenosine deaminase in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy]

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) and 2-deoxyadenosine deaminase (2-deoxyADA) activities were measured in pleural exudation of different origin in 373 patients (124 of these with serous tuberculous pleurisy and 75 with specific empyema). High diagnostic value of ADA activity in the presence of threshold value higher than 35 Units/liter was established: the sensitivity of the test in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy and empyema was 94.4 and 93.3% respectively, specificity 93.0 and 89.5%, respectively. Judging by the coefficient of 2-deoxyADA/ADA, total ADA activity is determined by the activity of ADA-2 isoenzyme, while in tuberculous empyema by ADA-1. Additional use of this coefficient, requiring measurement of 2-deoxyADA activity, does not improve the efficiency of the diagnostic process, including measurement of total ADA activity in pleural exudate.