A Case of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia Accompanying High Adenosine Deaminase Activity in Pleural Effusion.

Seo, Hyang Eun; Kim, Yeon Jae; Kim, Seong Kyu; Kang, Hyun Jae; Do, Yun Kyung; Yoon, Hye Jin; Chyun, Jae Hyun; Lee, Byung Ki; Kim, Won Ho

doi:2002.52.1.70

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 52(1); 2002 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2002;52(1):70-75.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2002.52.1.70 Published online January 1, 2002.

A Case of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia Accompanying High Adenosine Deaminase Activity in Pleural Effusion.

Hyang Eun Seo, Yeon Jae Kim, Seong Kyu Kim, Hyun Jae Kang, Yun Kyung Do, Hye Jin Yoon, Jae Hyun Chyun, Byung Ki Lee, Won Ho Kim

Department of Internal Medicine, Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea. persimmonkim@lycos.co.kr

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumioniae has a unique genomic composition, cellular biology, and a fastidious nature as the smallest cell-free living oranism that lacks a cell wall. Previous studies have suggested that a clinical manifesta tion of a M. pneumoniae infection is a consequence of a host immune response, particularly involving cellular immunity. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is the main T-lymphocyte enzyme, and its activity is high in diseases where cellular immunity is stimulated. Therefore, its activity is useful for diagnosing a tuberculous pleural effusion. A pleural effusion is found in 5-20% of Mycoplasma pneumonia patients. However, there are few reports of high ADA activity in a mycoplasmal pleural effusion. Here we report a case of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection established by a polymerase chain reaction and serologic tests, accompanying high ADA activity in a pleural effusion.

Key Words: Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Pleural effusion, Adenosine deaminase