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Evaluation of adenosine deaminase activity for the diagnosis of pleural TB in lymphocytic pleural effusions.
Biomark Med. 2013 Feb;7(1):113-8
Authors: da Silva CT, Behrsin RF, Cardoso GP, de Araújo EG
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic value of pleural adenosine deaminase (P-ADA) as a pleural TB-specific biomarker in lymphocytic pleural effusions.
MATERIALS & METHODS: Pleural effusions were classified on the basis of definitive diagnosis.
RESULTS: A total of 218 patients (122 tuberculous and 96 nontuberculous) were included in the study. The optimal cut-off value of P-ADA (receiver operating characteristic curve) for the diagnosis of pleural TB was 40.0 U/l (Giusti method). In lymphocytic pleural effusions P-ADA had a sensitivity of 80.3%, a specificity of 96.0% and an accuracy of 86.2%. The positive predictive value was 97.0% and the negative predictive value was 75.0%. The positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 19.8 and 0.2, respectively (p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSION: P-ADA activity is recommended for the diagnosis of TB in lymphocytic pleural effusions.
PMID: 23387492 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]