title: Elevated neopterin levels in Guillain-Barré syndrome. Further evidence of immune activation.
abstract: Neopterin is a by-product of guanosine triphosphate metabolism and is produced by macrophages in response to lymphocytic activation. We have studied serum neopterin levels in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome to obtain further evidence of immune activation in this disease. Serum neopterin levels were significantly elevated in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome compared with patients with other peripheral neuropathies and multiple sclerosis and with healthy control subjects. Serial analysis demonstrated that as neopterin levels fell, the clinical status of the patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome improved and soluble interleukin 2 receptor levels dropped. Thus, lymphocytic and macrophage activation may play a role in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bansil
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Mithen
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Singhal
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rohowsky-Kochan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D007371:Interferon-gamma