J Korean Med Sci.  2006 Aug;21(4):678-682. 10.3346/jkms.2006.21.4.678.

The Clinical Significance of Serum and Urinary Neopterin Levels in Several Renal Diseases

• Lhee HY
• Kim H
• Joo KJ
• Jung SS
• Lee KB

• KMID: 2157820
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2006.21.4.678

Abstract

Neopterin is a pyrazino-pyrimidine compound, and is known to be a marker associated with cell-mediated immunity in various diseases. We hypothesized that the levels of serum and urine neopterin would be elevated in renal disease, and would correlate with certain clinical parameters. We evaluated serum and urinary neopterin levels in patients with several renal diseases, including nephrotic syndrome (NS, n=19), chronic renal failure (CRF, n=8), end stage renal disease (ESRD, n=64) and controls (n=22). Serum neopterin was elevated in patients with CRF and ESRD, as compared to controls. Urinary neopterin levels were also found to be elevated in patients with CRF and ESRD, as compared to controls. Serum neopterin levels showed significant positive correlation with age, serum BUN and creatinine levels, and inverse correlation with WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum albumin and total iron binding capacity. Urine neopterin levels exhibited positive correlation with age and serum creatinine levels, and inverse correlation with WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, BUN and serum albumin. In conclusion, increased serum and urinary neopterin levels were found in some patients with renal disease and were correlated with certain clinical parameters.

Keyword

Kidney Diseases; Neopterin; Nephrotic Syndrome; Kidney Failure

MeSH Terms

Triglycerides/blood
Radioimmunoassay/methods
Nephrotic Syndrome/blood/pathology/urine
Neopterin/*blood/*urine
Middle Aged
Male
Kidney Failure, Chronic/blood/pathology/urine
Kidney Diseases/blood/*pathology/urine
Humans
Hemoglobins/metabolism
Hematocrit
Female
Creatinine/blood
Blood Urea Nitrogen
Aged
Age Factors
Adult

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Levels of serum neopterin in patient population. NS, nephrotic syndrome; CRF, chronic renal failure; ESRD, end-stage renal disease.

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  Fig. 2 Levels of urine neopterin in patient population. NS, nephrotic syndrome; CRF, chronic renal failure; ESRD; end-stage renal disease.

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