Diagnostic value of neopterin in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and relation with CRP

Abstract number: 1733_1505

Tarhan D., Aksaray S., Toyran A., Köksal D., Guvener E.

Objectives: Macrophages and T cells are responsible for the main immune response to tuberculosis by secreting many cytokines and other substances. Neopterin is a marker of cell-mediated immunity, and it has been demonstrated that in tuberculosis neopterin levels could be determinated in various body fluids. The aim of this study was to investigate diagnostic values of serum neopterin evaluation in tuberculosis infection.

Methods: Sixty-one male patients (ages 17–66 years) with active pulmonary tuberculosis, confirmed by clinical, radiological and bacteriologic examination findings who hadn't antituberculosis medication were included to this study. Sixty-two healthy male subjects (ages 18–67 years) were selected as a control group. Neopterin was measured by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IBL, Hamburg) in seras. CRP values were measured by nephelometric method (Dade Behring, Germany). Results were expressed as mean ±SD and ranges.

Results: Serum neopterin concentrations were 18.28±23.12 (0–83) nmol/L in patients with tuberculosis infection, 4.53±8.30 (0–37) nmol/L in the control group. CRP levels were 62.95±51.7 (4–198) mg/L in patients with tuberculosis infection and 3.13±21.7 (3–156) mg/L in control group. There was significant difference between patient and control groups on CRP and neopterin values (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: These findings indicate that measurements of serum neopterin levels are useful in diagnosis of active tuberculosis.