Introduction: Serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels are used to diagnose tuberculosis and to monitor the condition of the patients during hospital treatment. Purpose: The aim of the present study is to establish the diagnostic value of serum ADA in patients with inflammatory lung disease, including pulmonary tuberculosis. Materials and methods: We measured ADA levels in 66 patients with lung disease, of whom 33 were men and 33 were women, all aged 18 to 86 years. Among the patients studied, 12 were diagnosed with tuberculosis, 34 with bacterial pneumonia and 20 with pleural effusion. Results: We found that the serum ADA levels in our patients were higher than 18 U / l, which are the recommended upper limit in healthy people, according to the test performed by our laboratory. ADA levels were also higher than 21 U / l, the value we defined as the mean in healthy individuals in our previous study. Conclusion: Based on our study, we can say that serum ADA levels in the patients we have studied with lung diseases, including pulmonary tuberculosis, have a high diagnostic value.
Pulmonary tuberculosis masquerading as metastatic lung disease
