Role of ADA in immunological disorders - Diabetes mellitus and Thyroid dysfunction

Background: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is a cytosolic enzyme, which participates in development and maintenance of the immune system. Diabetic patients have a higher prevalence of thyroid disorders compared to the normal population because patients with one organ-specific autoimmune disease are at risk of developing other autoimmune disorders. Methods: A total number of one hundred subjects were divided into four groups consist of group A. Type II Diabetic patients, group B. Hypothyroid patients, group C. Hyperthyroid patients and group D. Healthy controls of either sex between age group of 30-70 years. The following biochemical parameters were estimated for all the groups. Fasting plasma glucose, Serum T3, T4, TSH and Adenosine deaminase. Results: Mean serum ADA levels were raised in diabetic and hypothyroid patients when compared to that in controls and which was statistically significant (p<0.0001). Unlike hypothyroid, serum ADA levels in hyperthyroid patients were within normal limits. Conclusion: Increase in serum ADA levels in the diabetic and the hypothyroid patients when compared to controls, are suggestive of an association with a common immunological disturbance. Increase in serum TSH levels in diabetes patient increase in fasting blood sugar level in hypothyroid patients, when compared to healthy controls is suggestive of diabetic patients probably suffering from subclinical hypothyroidism and patients with hypothyroidism suffering from impaired glucose metabolism.