1Department of Biochemistry, C.U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagr (Gujarat)
2Department of Biochemistry, Dr. S. N. Medical College, Jodhpur (Raj.)
3Department of Anatomy, C.U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagr (Gujarat)
4Department of Physiology, C.U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagr (Gujarat)
Adenosine deaminase (ADA, adenosine aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.4), an enzyme involved in purine metabolism, catalyses the hydrolytic cleavage of adenosine and 2’deoxyadenosine, irreversible converting them into inosine and 2’deoxyinosine respectively. ADA activity increases during cellular activation for energy demand to detoxify the toxic metabolites.
Studies have suggested the sensitivity and specificity of the assay of serum and pleural fluid ADA in serum and pleural effusions due to pleural TB, malignancy, and other pulmonary diseases. The assay of serum/pleural fluid ADA is simple, easy, cost-effective and reliable criteria that are considered important in the routine evaluation of the patients with symptoms suggestive of PTB particularly where the prevalence of tuberculosis is still high. This is the situation in our country, hence it should be recommended to include serum and pleural fluid ADA activity in the battery of routine investigations for the diagnosis and prognosis of PTB.
