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Jeon, Kwak, Song, Lee, Jeong, Choi, Shin, Kim, Park, and Choi: Diagnostic Value of ADA Multiplied by Lymphocyte to Neutrophil Ratio in Tuberculous Pleurisy
Original Article
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2007; 63(1): 17-23.

Published online: 31 July 2007

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2007.63.1.17

Diagnostic Value of ADA Multiplied by Lymphocyte to Neutrophil Ratio in Tuberculous Pleurisy

Eun Ju Jeon, M.D., Hee Won Kwak, M.D., Ju Han Song, M.D., Young Woo Lee, M.D., Jae Woo Jeong, M.D., Jae Cheol Choi, M.D., Jong Wook Shin, M.D., Jae Yeol Kim, M.D., In Won Park, M.D., Byoung Whui Choi, M.D.

Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Jong Wook Shin, M.D. Division of Allergy, Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, 224-1, Huksuk dong, Dongjak gu, Seoul, 156-756, Korea. Phone: 82-2-6299-1407, Fax: 82-2-823-1049, basthma@hanmail.net, basthma@cau.ac.kr

Received 11 May 2007       Accepted 13 June 2007

Copyright © 2007 The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

Abstract

Background

Many diagnostic approaches for defining the definitive cause of pleurisy should be included due to the large variety of diseases resulting in pleural effusion. Although ADA is a useful diagnostic tool for making a differential diagnosis of pleural effusion, particularly for tuberculous pleural effusion, a definitive diagnostic cut-off value remains problematic in Korea. It was hypothesized that ADA multiplied by the Lymphocyte/Neutrophil ratio(L/N ratio) might be more powerful for making a differential diagnosis of pleural effusion.

Methods

One hundred and ninety patients, who underwent thoracentesis and treatment in Chung-Ang University Hospital from January, 2005 through to February 2006, were evaluated. The clinical characteristics, radiologic data and the examination of the pleural effusion were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

1. Among the 190 patients, 59 patients (31.1%) were diagnosed with tuberculous pleurisy, 45 patients(23.7%) with parapneumonic effusion, 42 patients(22.1%) with malignant effusions, 36 patients(18.9%) with transudate, and 8 patients(4.2%) with empyema. One hundred and twenty one patients were found to have an ADA activity of 1 to 39 IU/L(63.7%). Twenty-nine were found to have an ADA activity of 40 to 75 IU/L(15.3%) and 40 were found to have an ADA activity of 75 IU/L or greater(21.0%). 2. Among the patients with tuberculous pleurisy, 5(8%), 18(30%) and 36 patients(60%) had an ADA activity ranging from 1 to 39 IU/L, 40 to 75 IU/L, and 75 IU/L or greater, respectively. In those with an ADA activitiy 40 to 75 IU/L, 18 patients(62%) had tuberculous pleurisy, 9(31%) had parapneumonic effusion and empyema, and 1(3.4%) had a malignant effusion. 3. In those with an ADA activity of 40 to 75 IU/L, there was no significant difference between tuberculous pleurisy and non-tuberculous pleural effusion(tuberculous pleurisy : 61.3 ± 9.2 IU/L, non-tuberculous pleural effusion : 53.3 ± 10.5 IU/L). 4. The mean L/N ratio of those with tuberculous pleurisy was 39.1 ± 44.6, which was significantly higher than non-tuberculous pleural effusion patients (p<0.05). The mean ADA × L/N ratio of the tuberculous pleurisy patients was 2,445.7 ± 2,818.5, which was significantly higher than the non-tuberculous pleural effusion patients (level pp<0.05). 5. ROC analysis showed that the ADA × L/N ratio had a higher diagnostic value than the ADA alone in the group with an ADA between 40-75 IU/L.

Conclusion

The ADA multiplied by the lymphocyte-to-neutrophil ratio might provide a more definitive diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.

Keywords: ADA, Lymphocyte-to-Neutrophil Ratio, Tuberculous Pleurisy

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Analyis of ADA and ADA × L/N to diagnose tuberculous pleurisy in patients with ADA activity between 40 to 75 IU/L. Difference between areas, 0.357 ± 0.131, 95% Confidence interval, 0.101;0.613, p=0.006
ADA: adenosine deaminase; ADALP: ADA × lymphocyte-to-neutrophil ratio; ADAPL: ADA × neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.
trd-63-17-g001
Table 1
Etiologies of pleural effusion in the total study population
trd-63-17-i001
Table 2
The range of ADA activity in the total study population
trd-63-17-i002

ADA: adenosine deaminase.

Table 3
Clinical characteristics of studied patients
trd-63-17-i003

ADA: adenosine deaminase; PMN: polymorphonuclear leukocyte; P/L: neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio; L/P: lymphocyte to neutrophil ratio; CEA: carcinoembryonic antigen; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase.

Table 4. A
Comparison of means between tuberculous pleurisy and non-tuberculous pleural effusion in the range of ADA activitiy of 40 to 75IU/L
trd-63-17-i004
Table 4. B
Comparison of means according to each etiology of nontuberculous pleural effusions in the range of ADA activitiy of 40 to 75IU/L
trd-63-17-i005

ADA: adenosine deaminase; LP: lymphocyte/neutrophil ratio; ADALP: adenosine deaminase × lymphocyte/neutrophil ratio.

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