Different levels of lymphocyte adenosine deaminase in active and inactive forms of chronic liver disease.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Mean ADA levels were decreased in patients with untreated chronic active hepatitis (CAH). ADA levels in patients with CAH in remission under immunosuppressive treatment and in patients with inactive cirrhosis (IC) were similar to control values. ADA levels were not related to any of the biochemical parameters examined, or to the percentage of T cells evaluated on the same PBMC preparations. Our data suggest that biochemical and/or histological remission in CLD may be associated with normalization of ADA levels in PBMC.