Analysis of serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) and ADA1 and ADA2 isoenzyme activities in HIV positive and HIV-HBV co-infected patients

Objectives

To determine adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity as a possible diagnostic marker in HIV and HIV–HBV co-infected patients.

Design and methods

Blood samples were collected from 72 healthy, 33 HIV positive and 30 HIV–HBV co-infected subjects. Blood CD4+ cell count was recorded and serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total ADA, and ADA1 and ADA2 isoenzyme activities were determined.

Results

Serum ALT, AST, total ADA and ADA2 isoenzyme activities were significantly higher in HIV positive and HIV–HBV co-infected groups compare to the control (p < 0.05), whereas serum ALP showed no differences between groups. CD4+ cell counts markedly decreased in all patients and showed a significant inverse correlation with ADA activities (R² = 0.589, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Serum ADA was significantly increased in HIV and HIV–HBV co-infections. Therefore, because of its low cost and simplicity to perform, ADA activity might be considered as a useful diagnostic tool among the other markers in these diseases.