Biomaterial Database

Adenosine deaminase estimations in the differentiation of pleural effusions. 1982

F J Maritz, and C Malan, and I Le Roux

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) estimations were performed on the pleural fluid from 368 effusions. The mean (+/-SD) ADA concentration in tuberculous effusions was 92,11 +/- 37,05 U/l, and these values were found to be highly statistically different from the 23,23 +/- 13,15 U/l in secondary malignant tumours of the pleura, the 34,86 +/- 14,2 U/l in mesotheliomas, and the 23,81 +/- 15,07 U/l in pulmonary embolism. The ADA values of 64,3 +/- 44,95 U/l in lymphoproliferative disorders were less significantly different. No statistical difference could be found between values in the tuberculous group and the ADA levels of 97,57 +/- 82 U/l found in para-infective effusions, but these could be distinguished from each other by microscopic examination of the pleural fluid. The importance of ADA estimations in the diagnosis and differentiation of tuberculous effusions is discussed and the role of microscopy is emphasized.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009700	Nucleoside Deaminases	Catalyze the hydrolysis of nucleosides with the elimination of ammonia.	Deaminases, Nucleoside
D010996	Pleural Effusion	Presence of fluid in the pleural cavity resulting from excessive transudation or exudation from the pleural surfaces. It is a sign of disease and not a diagnosis in itself.	Effusion, Pleural,Effusions, Pleural,Pleural Effusions
D010997	Pleural Neoplasms	Neoplasms of the thin serous membrane that envelopes the lungs and lines the thoracic cavity. Pleural neoplasms are exceedingly rare and are usually not diagnosed until they are advanced because in the early stages they produce no symptoms.	Neoplasms, Pleural,Neoplasm, Pleural,Pleural Neoplasm
D003937	Diagnosis, Differential	Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures.	Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000243	Adenosine Deaminase	An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of ADENOSINE to INOSINE with the elimination of AMMONIA.	Adenosine Aminohydrolase,Aminohydrolase, Adenosine,Deaminase, Adenosine
D014396	Tuberculosis, Pleural	Tuberculosis of the serous membrane lining the thoracic cavity and surrounding the lungs.	Pleurisy, Tuberculous,Pleural Tuberculoses,Pleural Tuberculosis,Pleurisies, Tuberculous,Tuberculoses, Pleural,Tuberculous Pleurisies,Tuberculous Pleurisy