English

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest diseases & tubercular meningitis is one of the most deadly complications due to missed diagnosis and delayed treatment result in significant morbidity and mortality. The signs and symptoms, results of routine analysis of CSF and radiographic findings for patients with CNS tuberculosis are often inadequate in making a definitive diagnosis. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To study the levels of Adenosine deaminase in cases of meningitis, 2. To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of CSF-ADA as a diagnostic test in tuberculosis meningitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the cross sectional study, Adenosine deaminase activity (ADA) was studied in cerebrospinal fluid of 60 cases of tuberculous meningitis, 10 cases of pyogenic meningitis. 10 cases of aseptic meningitis and15 control. RESULTS: The mean CSF-ADA activity was 14.1±1.96 (tuberculous meningitis); 4.92±1.27 (pyogenic meningitis); 3.66±1.03 (aseptic meningitis) and 1.69±0.44 U/l (control) respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of this test for diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis was 100% and 97.44% respectively with ADA value of more than 10 U/L. CONCLUSION: The adenosine deaminase activity in tuberculous meningitis cases was significantly higher. So it can be of great value in the early and more definitive diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis, to help early diagnosis and treatment to prevent from deadly complications of tubercular meningitis.