Alkaline phosphatase: Distinguishing between tuberculous and nontuberculous pleural effusion.

Objectives: To evaluate the value of pleural fluid alkaline phosphatase and pleural fluid/serum alkaline phosphatase ratio for the purpose of differentiating tuberculous from nontuberculous pleural effusion.

Materials And Methods: A total of 60 indoor patients, admitted to our hospital, having pleural effusion and suffering from varying etiologies, were included in this study. According to the final diagnosis, these 60 patients were divided into two groups: Tuberculous (30) and nontuberculous (30) pleural effusion.

Diagnostic value of adenosine deaminase to differentiate exudates and transudates.

The differentiation of pleural effusions as exudates or transudates is the first step in the diagnosis of pleural effusions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of adenosine deaminase (ADA) concentration in the pleural effusions for differentiating exudates from transudates. Sixty indoor patients, admitted to our hospital, having pleural effusions and suffering from varying etiologies were included in this study.