[Cytokine production-adenosine deaminase activity relationship in pulmonary tuberculosis]

The serum activity of the enzyme adenosine desaminase (ADA) was studied in patients with infiltrative tuberculosis in relation to IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-2 productions, the magnitude of a lymphocytic proliferative response to PPD and PGA. There was an association of high ADA levels with the severity of a tuberculous process, with the least IL-2 production together with drastically increased IL1 beta and significant disorders in the TNF-alpha system. Moderate ADA increases reflect the regularly enhanced activity of immunocompetent cells in response to an infectious agent. The findings indicate that a simple biochemical test may be used for rapid preliminary evaluation of the severity of disease and immune performance.