Serum adenosine deaminase levels in pancreatic diseases.
BACKGROUND
Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is found in most tissues including the pancreas. Its role in inflammation and malignancy has been studied experimentally. To date, serum ADA levels in pancreatic diseases have not been studied before.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the levels of ADA in patients with pancreatitis and cancer of the pancreas.


METHODS
Serum levels of ADA were investigated in 14 cases with acute pancreatitis (mean age 46 years; male/female 5/9), 38 with chronic pancreatitis (mean age 46 years; male/female 25/13), 21 with cancer of the pancreas (mean age 67 years; male/female 11/10), and 21 healthy controls (mean age 40 years; male/female 11/10). The ADA levels were also compared among patients with pancreatic cancer with regard to tumor size and localization and the presence of metastases. Correlation analysis between ADA and CA 19.9 was also performed.


RESULTS
Serum ADA levels were 12.66 (9.54-20.72), 12.51 (8.88-26.64), 15.36 (10.20-21.05) and 9.39 (6.58-11.84) U/l in patients with acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and healthy controls, respectively. Serum ADA levels were significantly higher in acute and chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer patients compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Pancreatic cancer patients had significantly higher serum ADA levels when compared with acute and chronic pancreatitis cases (p < 0.05). The serum ADA levels were comparable according to tumor size and location and the presence of metastases. There was a linear correlation between serum ADA and CA 19-9 levels (p = 0.027, r = 0.552).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the ADA enzyme may play a role in inflammatory diseases of the pancreas. Serum ADA levels increase in pancreatic disorders especially in pancreatic cancer. It may be a serum marker for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Ibiş
Mehmet
M
Department of Gastroenterology, Dişkapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Köklü
Seyfettin
S
Yilmaz
Fatma Meriç
FM
Başar
Omer
O
Yilmaz
Gülsen
G
Yüksel
Osman
O
Yildirim
Emre
E
Oztürk
Zeynel Abidin
ZA
D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase