title: The simultaneous determination of cerebrospinal fluid and plasma adenosine deaminase activity as a diagnostic aid in tuberculous meningitis.
abstract: The simultaneous determination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was evaluated as a diagnostic aid in tuberculous meningitis (TBM). CSF and plasma ADA activity were determined in four groups of patients: (i) a 'no meningitis' group of 174 children investigated for possible meningitis, but found to be uninfected; (ii) an aseptic meningitis group of 40 children; (iii) a bacterial meningitis group of 31 children; and (iv) a TBM group of 27 patients (24 children and 3 adults). CSF ADA alone was determined in a further 23 children with aseptic meningitis, 19 with bacterial meningitis and 13 children and 7 adults with TBM. Both the CSF/plasma ADA ratio and the absolute CSF ADA activity were raised in TBM (mean values 0,24 and 12,61 U/I respectively) and bacterial meningitis (mean values 0,59 and 15,43 U/I respectively), but not in the aseptic meningitis group (mean values 0,06 and 2,00 U/I) or the 'no meningitis' group (mean values 0,04 and 1,51 U/I). Both values will distinguish TBM from aseptic meningitis, but do not appear to hold any marked advantages over conventional CSF criteria in the diagnosis of TBM.
mesh_terms: D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D009700:Nucleoside Deaminases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D009700:Nucleoside Deaminases; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase