Adenosine deaminase concentration in cerebrospinal fluid during brucella meningitis

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was measured in the CSF of five patients with confirmed brucella meningitis. The mean enzyme value was 20.00 U/l in the presence of high lymphocyte counts in the CSF. We conclude from this preliminary result that the quick and simple estimation of ADA in CSF could be of great value in the diagnosis of brucella meningitis as the enzyme concentration was high in all five patients. This finding is however not specific and similar results have been reported in other meningitides such as tuberculous meningitis.