Serum adenosine deaminase levels in diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
BACKGROUND
Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is found in most tissues including lymphoid cells and lymph nodes. It is a marker of T lymphocyte activation. The role of type 1 and type 2 T helper cells in appendicitis has been investigated experimentally. Serum ADA levels in acute appendicitis have not previously been studied.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the serum levels of ADA in patients with acute appendicitis.


METHODS
Serum levels of ADA were investigated in 30 cases with acute appendicitis (mean age 26 years; male/female 17/13) and 21 healthy controls (mean age 40 years; male/female 11/10). Levels of ADA were compared in patients with acute appendicitis and healthy controls. Correlation analysis between ADA and other inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP), high-sensitivity CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and white blood cell count) was also performed.


RESULTS
Mean (SD) serum ADA levels were significantly higher in those with acute appendicitis than in the control group (13.41 (3.56) U/l vs 9.39 (1.22) U/l; p<0.001). There was no correlation between ADA and the other inflammatory markers investigated.


CONCLUSIONS
Although serum levels of ADA do not correlate with other known inflammatory markers, its serum level is increased in acute appendicitis and it has a higher positive predictive value.
Oztürk
Z A
ZA
Department of Internal Medicine, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Köklü
S
S
Erol
M F
MF
Yilmaz
F M
FM
Basar
O
O
Yüksel
O
O
Yilmaz
G
G
Kisacik
B
B
Yüksel
I
I
D000208:Acute Disease; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase