title: Tuberculous pericarditis: importance of adenosine deaminase activity in pericardial fluid.
abstract: We present a case of tuberculous pericarditis that was diagnosed early by a high titer of adenosine deaminase activity in the pericardial fluid and by a strongly positive tuberculin test. Within 2 weeks of initiation of treatment, pericardial effusion gradually decreased while clinical symptoms improved markedly. Culture from sputum, gastric juice, urine, and pericardial fluid were negative for tubercle bacillus. Measurement of adenosine deaminase activity in the pericardial fluid is a supplementary diagnostic test which is as important as for tuberculous pericarditis as it is for tuberculous pleuritis, because negative Ziehl Neelsen staining and culture for tubercle bacillus are common in tuberculous pericarditis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Nara, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iga
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kijima
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kohri
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwata
mesh_terms: D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D010495:Pericarditis, Tuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D014374:Tuberculin Test
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase