Changes of serum adenosine deaminase level in new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis before and after intensive phase treatment

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a public health crisis with an estimated 10 million people developing TB disease in 2017. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) level in serum and pleural fluid as a biomarker may be used to diagnose pulmonary TB (PTB), but it is not always easy to obtain those samples at the end of treatment. This study was conducted to analyze the changes of serum ADA level in the new case of PTB patients with acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear-positive sputum and sputum conversion status as treatment monitoring in PTB patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational analytic study conducted in Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, from January 2018 to May 2018. Participants were all new cases of PTB patients with AFB smear-positive sputum, and a positive rapid molecular test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Blood serums were taken at the same time on the 1(st) day of TB treatment and also taken at the end of intensive phase treatment to analyze the changes of serum ADA level. RESULTS: There were 26 TB patients and 26 healthy control people. Serum ADA level at the beginning of TB treatment was higher than the level at the end of intensive phase treatment. There was a significant difference between serum ADA level before and after the intensive phase of TB treatment (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The examination of serum ADA levels can be used to evaluate the PTB treatment response.