title: Neopterin as a marker of C hepatitis in thalassaemia major.
abstract: The authors studied serum neopterin in 106 patients with beta thalassaemia major. A good correlation was found between neopterin values and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) mean values of the last 6 months, whereas no correlation was found between neopterin values and some siderosis indexes (iron/body weight, total accumulated iron). A statistically significant correlation was found between neopterin values (greater than 10 nM/L vs. less than 10 nM/L) and histological liver findings (chronic hepatitis vs. siderosis). Neopterin values were also statistically different between splenectomized and not splenectomized patients. Moreover serum neopterin was higher in HCV-Ab positive than in HCV-Ab negative patients, and 91.6% of the HCV-Ab positive group also showed histological signs of chronic hepatitis. These data suggest that increased serum neopterin might help to identify chronic C hepatitis in thalassaemic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Avola
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sciacca
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Gregorio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Musumeci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D013156:Splenectomy; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase