Abstract :
Tuberculosis is a communicable disease with differing manifestations. It is a disease which is one of the
leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and a disease which is affecting economy directly and
indirectly. Extra pulmonary manifestations are an area of interest to laboratory as diagnosis is often difficult
and not definitive. Pleural effusion is one of the commonest extra pulmonary manifestations. Differential
diagnosis is a big palindrome for pleural fluids.
Aim: To test the reliability of lactate dehydrogenase of serum and pleural fluid in diagnosing tubercular
effusions.
Materials and Methods: Serum and Pleural fluids of tubercular and non tubercular origin were assayed
for lactate dehydrogenase and studied.
Results: The serum levels were sensitive and not specific and pleural fluid levels were neither sensitive nor
specific.
Conclusion: The lactate dehydrogena se activity may be used a tool to distinguish exudates and transudates
and also the ratio of lactate dehydrogenase and adenosine deaminase may be used if any other method are
not available.
Keyword :
Lactate dehydrogenase LDH, Pleural fluid, Pleural effusion, Tubercular pleural effusion, Abbrevations TB tuberculosis, LDH - lactate dehydrogenase, ADA adenosine deaminase, ROC receiver operating characteristics, NAD nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide