Diagnostic value of adenosine deaminase in nontuberculous lymphocytic pleural effusions
2003
Adenosine deaminase (ADA) can aid in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusions, but false-positive findings from lymphocytic effusions have been reported. The purpose of this study is to assess the ADA levels in nontuberculous lymphocytic pleural effusions (lymphocyte count >50%) of different aetiologies.
Altogether, 410 nontuberculous lymphocytic pleural fluid samples were consecutively selected. These included malignant effusions (n=221), idiopathic effusions (n=76), parapneumonic effusions (n=35), postcoronary artery bypass graft surgery effusions (n=6), miscellaneous exudative effusions (n=21) and transudative effusions (n=51).
The ADA level reached the diagnostic cut-off for tuberculosis (40 U·L−1) in seven of the 410 cases (1.71%). The negative predictive value of ADA for the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis was 99% (403 of 407 cases) in the group of lymphocytic pleural effusions. In five of these seven patients ADA1 and ADA2 were measured, and in all these cases (100%) ADA1/ADAp correctly classified these lymphocytic effusions as nontuberculous (ratio <0.42).
This prospective study provides additional evidence that adenosine deaminase levels in nontuberculous lymphocytic pleural effusions seldom exceed the cut-off set for tuberculous effusions. The pleural fluid adenosine deaminase levels were significantly higher in different types of exudative effusions than in transudates. An adenosine deaminase level <40 IU·L−1 virtually excluded a diagnosis of tuberculosis in lymphocytic pleural effusions. Adenosine deaminase1/adenosine deaminasep correctly classified all nontuberculous lymphocytic pleural effusions with high adenosine deaminase levels.
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